THE MENTOR

AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION

Contributions must be on an Prodos Apple II or IBM ascii file (DD or HD) or typed, CONTENTS #72 single or double spaced, preferably a good photocopy (and if you want it returned, please type your name and address! Contributions are not paid; however they receive a free copy of the issue their contribution is in, and any future issue containing comments on their contribution. P. 2 - A WAY WITH WOMEN by Margaret Pearce Contents (C) Copyright 1991 for the Contributors 10 - VOLGACON! VOLGACON! by Ron Clarke The Editorial Slant 20 - VOYAGE ... by Andy Well, I've now returned from my Darlington. trip to Volgograd as one of the Guests 21 - AN OPEN LETTER by the of the convention. There were times I Paranoid Android didn't think I was going - what with the coupe, but when the time came, 23 - 12 BAR ACCESS by Bill after several phonecalls, I went. And Congreve I don't regret it. The Republics of the Soviet Union were, and still are, 27 - YANKEE PRIVATEER 12 by in a state of flux. When I was over Buck Coulson there many people commented on the 29 - PTB by James Verran fact there was not much food in the shops, and I hadn't realised till I 31 - LUCY & THE LIGHTNING by was shown, that the population are Blair Hunt still using ration coupons for the 32 - MISSED BY .... MUCH by basic foods - flour, sugar, etc. Alan Stewart While I was there, I had fruitful discussions with several 33 - MIRRORS & SLIVERS by literary agencies and several Grai Hughes publishers. As far as the literary agencies and publishers are concerned 35 - THE R&R Dept - they would like to publish SF by 57 - REVIEWS Australian authors, but they wanted someone here to be an agent. So they asked me. I said yes, I would give it a go. The SF magazines in Russia have Cover Artwork by Jozef Szekeres circulations of about 100,000, and the paperbacks up to 300,000. When I Internal Illos: Jozef Szekeres asked what kind of stories they p.7 wanted, they said they had plenty of Peggy Ranson stories with humour - they wanted p.9, 26, 31 stories "with a strong plot", of Steve Fox p.22, 28, 34 between 15 and 20 double-spaced Anne Stewart typewritten pages. Most of the p.30 stories in the magazines I have seen Andrey are short stories. The idea was that Karapetyan p.56, 70 Australian authors would submit them to me, I would vet them, then send the accepted ones over to the Toloconnicou THE MENTOR 72, November 1991. ISSN 0727-8462. and Zavgorodny Literary Agency, where Edited, printed and published by Ron Clarke, Igor would again vet them and send the 6 Bellevue Road, Faulconbridge, NSW 2776, ones that were within the parameters Australia. THE MEN TOR is published at to the magazines in the USSR. So if intervals of roughly three months. It is you would like to be a published available for published contribution (fiction [science fiction or fantasy], author in the USSR... the same poetry, article, or letter of comment on a conditions apply as to submissions to previous issue. It is not available for THE MENTOR. And please indicate with subscription, but is available for $5 for a sumbmissions whether the story is for sample issue (posted). TM or the USSR, or both (if not accepted for the USSR).

THE MENTOR 72 page 1 One little carp - I have noticed that more and more fanzines aren't publishing the full addresses of LoCCers. This isn't in the spirit of fandom, people. Other faneds can't expand their mailing lists without this type of info, and if you keep on doing it, you won't get any future new addresses from anybody! Sure there are people who don't want their addresses published. But they are in the minority and should say so. Come on, faneds, do the right thing! Put in those addresses in the LoCcol. You are making it harder by limiting letter writing between loccers and hurting everyone, including yourselves. - Ron Clarke.

THE MENTOR 72 page 2 A Way With Women

by Margaret Pearce

First Engineer John Scarlett John watched the swaying hips of showed a discontented face to the the cute little biologist in front of cabin mirror. Today was his birthday. him. She had a narrow waist and long It was also landfall at Thetis, and legs that showed to full advantages in the whole crew had been granted shore the tight silver uniform. He brooded leave. Two things well worth for a few seconds on her lack of taste celebrating. in deserting him for the blonde boy Except the birthday he was who looked as if he hadn't yet started celebrating was his fortieth, and shaving, and then he cheered up. revisiting a planet was depressing. Thetis was one planet where The ten years of your absence was there were plenty more fish in the usually twenty to thirty years on sea. The women outnumbered the men by their time scale, and looking up old a ratio of ten to one. Men were such friends and acquaintances was a sharp a novelty even the most miserable reminder of the intransigence of life. specimens of masculinity were rushed, Still, the mirror reflected a and he was no miserable specimen. He fine figure of a man. He straightened inflated his chest at the thought. his shoulders and remembered to tuck 'Getting ready to conquer the in his paunch. There was very little planet, Casanova?' jeered the voice grey in his thick dark hair, and if behind him. his eyes were starting to bag, and the He looked around at his dumpy lines around his jowls deepen, so second engineer and hid his annoyance what! Lines of experience and behind a patronising smile. She was maturity gave a man character. Half sharp and smart, but after all, she these smooth faced kids looked like was only a woman, and a dowdy one at pansies. At least he looked every that. Her attempt to beat him to the inch a totally masculine man. promotion of first engineer had been The rest of the crew were in a slick, but after all the position riotously holiday mood. Thetis was belonged with him. He was the best the ideal planet to spend leave. Its damn engineer on the space freighter. reputation had spread through the Women had their place, but not in the galaxy. An ideal climate, magnificent engineering profession. scenery and an over abundance of 'Enjoy your leave, Carman,' he beautiful hospitable women enhanced retorted, and had the pleasure of its other attractions. seeing her face darken. There were no hostile life On a planet full of beautiful forms. diseases, or any political women, Carman was very surplus. Come instability. The medikits and to think of it, she was a surplus stunpacks were worn as a formality. issue on a freighter light years from The stage of civilisation was nowhere. Pleased with that last technological, but only advanced to thought, he paused on the landing where it made living more pleasant. field, trying to decide where to go. There was heat, light, power and He could look up Llalla of sanitation, but no slums or grim rows course, but she would have aged twenty of factories. There were fully years to his ten. He was not a great automated factories, but they were one for renewing old romances. There discreetly underground, and the airy was only a fortnight's leave, and the council chambers, hotels, temples, planet was crammed with so many amusement places and private beautiful women he felt he should residences were set among well kept share himself out generously. parks and gardens. 'Just the man I wanted to see,' exclaimed the Captain.

THE MENTOR 72 page 3 John straightened to attention. attractive with long glossy red brown Not that there was any need to. The hair and luminous grey eyes set in Captain was in civvies, and very regular features. However, there was a disgusting civvies at that. He wore rigid austerity in their faces that high wading boots over stained and made them look almost identical. Their dirty cotton trousers, a torn shirt faces hinted of a regime of celibacy, without buttons with an old hand- poverty and obedience. All concepts knitted cardigan over it. His bald that made John uncomfortable. head was covered by an old towelling 'You will take it to Llalla the hat threaded through with fish hooks third.' one of the women decided. and flies. She snapped her fingers, and 'Sir,' John muttered in a another young woman came forward. She pained voice. was just as tall, but seemed less 'I've got a fishing trio lined austere, her mouth dimpled into a up,' the Captain explained. He handed smile, and her blue eyes glowing over a thick satchel. 'It's the serum pleasure and admiration. She had a that the third temple asked for. heavy mane of long golden hair. Deliver it for me will you.' 'Please come with me,' she said A hovercraft tilting under the in a husky voice. weight of several old men in the same John followed her up to the state of undress as the Captain circular ramp and along the glowing swooped over and bore the Captain antiseptic corridors. He wondered if away. There was a babble of old men's it was possible that Llalla the third voices, and the hovercraft spun was the Llalla he knew? around, gathering speed as it headed The blond-haired girl paused at in the direction of the ocean. a door and knocked. It slid open. She John shrugged, and hailed a winked at John and left. John stepped silver hovercraft. The young man through into a small office. The black driving gave him a resentful look when haired girl sitting at the cluttered he asked for the third temple, and desk looked up. She looked exactly slid up the partition around the like how John remembered Llalla, but driving seat. John ignored his it was twenty years later. Perhaps driver, and tried to remember what Llalla had passed on her striking good Llalla had told him of the temples on looks to a daughter! his last incident filled leave. It 'Llalla?' John questioned. was either her mother or her A frown gathered on the clear grandmother who were temple caste. He cut features and the brown eyes couldn't remember whether Llalla had a inspected him. Then they lightened to profession or not. All he remembered the flashing pools of pure gold in the was her zest for being hospitable. way John remembered. Most of the medical profession 'It is you, John! I wondered if and all their attendant biologists and you were still with the Lucillus.' technicians were automatically temple John put the satchel down and caste. Temples were like hospitals and grinned at her. She stood up and research clinics merged into one. They flowed into his arms and he kissed were still built in the high conical her. She was exactly the same as he bullet shapes of the first disable remembered, with the almost physical space ship that the original settlers aura of vitality and energy. The long used as combined hospital and black hair rippled down her back, and laboratory. Only now the high cones her face was smooth and innocent in that reared over the gracious low its young curves. buildings scattered around the 'We are here a fortnight. Have countryside were worked of white stone you some time to spend with me?' he or shining marble. asked with his face in the remembered The third temple was perfume of her hair. He immediately unmistakable with its three blue lines revised his ideas of choosing newer of windows high up its smooth sides. acquaintances for his recreation. The hovercraft drifted up the imposing 'It will takes some time to steps to the wide landing. clear this lot.' She gestured at her As John stepped out two tall cluttered desk. 'Why don't you go women in the regulation white sweeping sailing, and I'll meet you back at the robes watched him coldly. A lot of the house when I finish.' temple women were tall, which set off John nodded and patted her rump. interminable arguments among the crew He must have made some impression for as to whether height was related to her to remember over twenty years his intelligence. The temple women were fascination with the small sailing the physicians, research scientists boats. It was where they had and technicians. originally met after all. A 'First Engineer John Scarlett of spectacular collision and a tangled the space ship Lucillus,' he reported. mess of ropes and sails they had to 'I have the serum you required.' float to the shore before they could The women inspected him disentangle. carefully. They were both young,

THE MENTOR 72 page 4 There was a spring in his step there some way he could separate the as he left the temple, and he nodded whispered rumours and speculations cheerfully to the two tall women on from concrete facts? duty at the entrance. They looked John got restless, and put away through him with an untroubled the boat and tricky orange silk sails. detachment. Llalla was still enclosed in the third Llalla's house was as he temple. He spent hours drifting in the remembered: a well built stone dome hovercraft over and around the nestled into the side of the cliffs scattered buildings, staring at the overlooking the ocean. The winding always youthful population. He was a track still led down to the little man in the prime of life. It wasn't boat-house. He thought it was steeper fair that soon he would have to step and further than he remembered, but down or be pushed aside by a younger, the same pleasure came back at the greedier generation. sight of the sleek hulls and the There were worlds he hadn't carefully folded sails. explored, and women he hadn't met, and He settled to the delights of technology he hadn't mastered. At the sailing. It was easy to ignore the back of his mind pounded the open invitations of the other girls he remorseless reminder. Spacemen are met. He had something more important grounded at forty-five years. Captains on his mind. It was the puzzle of last until sixty-five, but Captains Llalla's inexplicable youthfulness. are insulated and protected on their All the women on the planet were control decks. Spacemen and women live young and beautiful. It was one of the dangerously, and their reflexes have wonders of the galaxy that you took to be nearly as fast as the ship's for granted after a while. Until this computers. Reflexes slow down with trip, he had never seen anyone old. It age, and radiation accumulates in was a mystery where the Captain had bodies that are too long in space. dredged up his fishing companions. A reprieve from aging, was it They were as wrinkled and gap-toothed, possible? Young men and women were with their sparse white and grey hair flirting and dancing in the amusement as any of their earth counterparts. parks. There were a few men around in There had been rumours that the his own age group, but no old men or colonists of Thetis had a longevity women. It was a planet of young process, but it was not a fact that people. could be proved. Spacemen had nothing Some of the girls looked up and better to do on the long hours between waved and smiled, but he ignored them. planets than to endlessly speculate, He was on the track of something enlarge and misinterpret the eerie, indefinitely more desirable than a odd and unusual customs of the various woman. planets. Most planets had their own The hovercraft left the collection of distorted rumours and populated areas behind. John lifted it hearsay surrounding some unproven over the dense forest and jagged superstition. mountains. There was untouched All the population of Thetis wilderness, and then the trees thinned were handsome and possessed of vital out to be the usual park-like good health. Vital good health meant surrounds of a village, but this that the aging processes were not as village had no cone shaped temple obvious as in an environment with rearing up. problems of hostile life forms, Figures strolling in twos on the poisonous atmosphere, viruses and paths looked up. Some boys wrestling incorrect diet. on a patch of green lawn stopped what John frowned, and leaned over they were doing, and seeing the hard as he tacked around. The oldest markings on the hovercraft jeered and men he had seen apart from the called something he couldn't catch. A Captain's companions were usually in a cascade of well aimed stones thudded vigorous middle age. If there was a on the underside of the metallic longevity process, would women, being craft. the vainer sex, take it earlier in John spun the hovercraft in a life? It did seem logical to assume lazy circle to go back. An old man that a male would prefer to stabilise with a fringe of white hair on the the longevity process nearer his edge of his bald skull looked up and prime. What man would want to spend a spat with a contempt obvious, even few hundred years looking like a half from a distance. It was all very grown youth? puzzling, because of the planet's The again, there was the fact of unblemished reputation for the old men to be accounted for. Where friendliness and courtesy. John did they fit into the planet's shrugged the incident aside and headed culture? Were they rejects from the for Llalla's dome. longevity process? Was the longevity She was home at last, and the just an accumulated genetic thing dome glowed with her presence. John because of the favourable environment, looked at her fresh beauty with a more or was it a deliberate process? Was clinical eye. Of course the planet had

THE MENTOR 72 page 5 the secret of longevity, and he was 'Now that Llalla the first is determined to obtain it, as sure as he gone we need another engineer. The had a way with women. The subject came elders won't let us recruit. The up without much angling. custom is that the men have to 'Sorry I'm a day late, but my volunteer of their own free will for grandmother died, and you know how the longevity, otherwise it doesn't long winded funerals are,' she take.' apologised with a complete absence of 'What happens if it doesn't sentiment. take?' John demanded, wondering if 'Was she as beautiful as you?' there was a grimmer reason for so few John asked. elderly men in the society, but Llalla Llalla just laughed. 'I don't didn't answer his question. take after her. She had red hair, big 'So many of the engineers are brown eyes and white skin.' men, and so many men,' she blushed 'Was she very old?' John asked again, 'Are refusing the longevity after an interval. He didn't want to treatment. They never used to. It's appear to be probing. all this men's lib.' 'About five hundred years I 'Is it a long treatment?' John think,' Llalla said with a yawn. asked. He had four days left. 'Goodness. I'm tired. We had the vigil 'No, but you would have to last night, but I still had to do my resign your commission.' normal clinic. I'll be glad to get John was silent. His career was some sleep.' his life, but without longevity his 'What did she die of?' span of life as a spaceman was John tried to keep his voice finishing. In another five years he casual, and it was an effort. He moved would be grounded. Space travel was away from her so she wouldn't be aware not for geriatrics. of his tremor. Llalla stretched on the 'I'll resign,' he said, and bed and shut her eyes. reached for a towel, avoiding her 'Just the usual. She decided she eyes. had enough, asked permission, and did With the longevity process the a ceremonial fade out.' world was his oyster. The clause in The next day they went sailing. his contract that demanded avoidance John returned to the subject. In of other world's religions, rites and another five days they would leave the entanglements, physical, intellectual, planet. In ten years when the ship emotional and psychical didn't really touched down again, he would be a apply this time. The ship wouldn't be retired fifty, and grounded on his back for another twenty years by this home planet. What good was a longevity planet's time scale, and by then process to someone fifty? anything could have happened. He could 'Was your grandmother a doctor even transfer to some other ship that too?' he asked. Llalla tacked the avoided this corner of the galaxy. orange sails in a sudden swoop that An anxious forty-eight hours caused him to strain every muscle to went while the temple considered his sway around with the hull. application. Another ten hours went by 'Engineer,' called back Llalla. as they checked his engineering 'Isn't this fun? I haven't been skills, and gave him interminable IQ sailing for ages. What do you think of tests. It was twenty-four hours before the new sails?' the ship was due to blast off that the 'Terrific,' John yelled back, instructions came to proceed to the gritting his teeth at the warning ache temple. on his back. 'You do understand what is That night he soaked in the hot involved?' Llalla asked, as she mineral bath, and Llalla scrubbed his escorted him to the underground and back. secret operation theatre. 'That's wonderful,' he almost 'That it's an operation and I am groaned. 'God. I wish I was like you. contracted to the service of the Don't you ever get tired, Llalla?' temple until I choose to fade-out.' He There was silence. She had kissed her. 'It means, my love, we're stopped scrubbing his back. John going to be able to spend a hell of a turned to look at her. Was there a lot more time together.' grim amusement in her eyes? She A faint cloud crossed her face. lowered her eyes and blushed. John 'If it is still your desire, my decided it was imagination and all the love,' she answered, and kissed him steam. back with an unexpected passion. 'Would you really like to be John was disappointed at the like me?' she breathed. secrecy of the temple surgeons. He was 'I would love to.' He put all bathed and cleansed even to the the sincerity he could into his voice. unpleasant enema, and spread out on an 'You're an engineer aren't you?' operating table with a nasty John nodded, and waited. Llalla resemblance to a sacrificial altar. looked thoughtful. 'You are volunteering to undergo the longevity process of your own free

THE MENTOR 72 page 6 will?' the masked face beside him tall females were unusual on his home asked. planet. Still, a man was adaptable. 'I am volunteering to undergo 'What about this repair work,' the longevity process of my own free he suggested after a while. will,' he recited, as Llalla had Her name was Derfa, and she was coached him. an engineer also. John was almost It seemed to satisfy the shocked by the amount of her listeners. Someone came forward with a knowledge, until he remembered she hypodermic. He took one last look at could have more years of experience the attractive austere circle of than her looks suggested. They worked faces, anonymous in masks and theatre together in the echoing flood lit gowns, and drifted off into corridors on the machines that unconsciousness. provided the power for the planet. It When he woke, it was morning, was another world, and John immersed and he was back at Llalla's dome. He in the occupation he loved more than had a thick tongue as though he had women, looked uncomprehending as Derfa been drugged, and a slight soreness in repeated her statement it was time to his side. He couldn't see or feel eat. anywhere on his body where he had been They caught the lift up, and he operated on. emerged blinking in the well lit 'You all right?' Llalla asked. temple. It was just on sunset. He 'Yeah, but where did they remembered the ship would be blasting operate?' off within the hour. He stared at the 'It's a deep injection silly,' force-field thickening up across the she giggled. 'They never open anybody arched entrance. It would have to be up these days. The instrument has a lifted! closed circuit t.v. camera mounted 'I'll just see Llalla,' he told behind its head. They know exactly Derfa, who pouted but blew him a kiss, where they are going. It's only a ten and joined the crowds of white clad minute job.' females streaming to the communal 'Why does my mouth feel so dining rooms. foul.' John raced up the circular ramp 'It's the drug to keep you that led to Llalla's office. Although knocked out,' Llalla explained as she the ship wouldn't blast off for gave him a colourless drink. 'You have another fifty minutes, all ports would to be kept immobilised until the be sealed within the next half hour. process takes effect, and it's easier Once sealed up, they would stay to keep you drugged than strap you closed. The Captain was not the sort down for eight hours.' of person to abort his lift-off for John took a long drink and the sake of one crew member. Llalla immediately felt better, a lot better. smiled a greeting as she saw him. His whole body flooded with a sense of 'Llalla,' he blurted out. 'I've well being and the soreness was gone, got to return to the ship.' his vision cleared, and his mind felt Her eyebrows raised and her cleaner and sharper. smile faded. She looked shocked. 'You 'After a decent breakfast, what belong here now, John.' say we go sailing,' he suggested. 'Of course.' John's mind was 'There'll be plenty of time racing as he thought of the force- later,' Llalla promised with a smile. field across the temple entrance. 'Right now I have to go back to work, Even when they were turned off, force- and you're expected to start this fields took minutes before they morning. There are some repair jobs to dropped enough in power to let you be done.' through them. 'I still have to give John went with her to the third my resignation verbally, otherwise it temple, and learned that it was now won't be accepted.' his temple. The guardians greeted him Llalla looked thoughtful, but with courtesy and escorted him to the remained silent. lift that dropped with sickening speed 'Don't you understand, Llalla?' below the ground. Once down he was He put all the sincerity he could in handed over to the tall golden haired his voice. 'If I don't, I'm listed as girl. a deserter, and probably shot next She dimpled with pleasure at the time the ship touches down.' sight of him. She waited until the Much to his relief she nodded, lift closed on the austere faces of and opened a channel on the television the guardians, and put her arms around screen. John thanked providence for him and kissed him passionately. the cultural pattern of a society 'Welcome back,' she breathed in where a man's word was his bond, and a her husky voice. verbal contract in the presence of John kissed her back with witnesses was considered almost enthusiasm, but he felt a fraction sacred. It was one argument the uneasy as he stared into the sparkling guardians should agree to. blue eyes level with his own. Very 'You have left it a bit late, but that might have been our fault,'

THE MENTOR 72 page 7 the guardian admitted when she lifted Other crew members dropped off the force-field. 'You have worked a stupid with fatigue, one by one. He long day on the repairs.' noticed with secret glee that even 'I'll come straight back,' John Carman his second engineer had to drag promised, keeping his face very her dumpy body off, and she was one earnest. tough female. Eventually the Naturally.' A shade of grim emergency was over and the damage amusement crossed the austere face. repaired. 'You now belong here.' 'Still as fresh as a daisy,' one John gave Llalla a last kiss, technician marvelled. 'The man and pelted down the winding ramp, doesn't even need a shave.' through the archway and hailed a hovercraft. He was free! 'I've got to make the ship inside ten minutes,' he gasped. The spaceport pulsated to the roar of the engines, and John sprinted for the gantry with its lift leading to the one small cargo port left open. The Captain was bristling with indignation. 'Thirty seconds more, and I would've logged you as a deserter. Get to your post Mister Scarlett.' John tumbled into the contour couch by his control board. Carman, the second engineer, gave him a sour smile, and handed over the sheaf of figures she was checking. 'Nearly did it this time, Casanova.' 'And you nearly stepped into a pair of boots too big for you,' he retorted. The sirens shrilling the warning of blast-off sounded through the ship. The screens filled with the velvet blackness of space and the receding green and gold planet hanging like a jewel in it. Elation swelled inside John, adding to his sense of joyous well being. He had got away with it! He now had longevity and his career. When he finished shift he went to his cabin. He wasn't tired, but he was sure that the radiant energy surging through him would be noticeable. Of course it was too early for the treatment to show, but his cheeks were John grinned and went off for a pink and his eyes sparkling. He threw clean up, a sleep and a feed in that his crumpled cap into the corner and order. He was whistling absently as inspected his hair. Was it his he headed back to his cabin after his imagination or were the odd streaks of shower, when a sudden ideas struck grey fading? him. The weeks, and then the months It was a puzzling idea. He slid by. They made landfall at first fingered his smooth chin and tried to one planet and then another. All the remember. When had he shaved last? time John felt better and better. The With so much happening, not just with cute biologist left the blonde young the meteor dust, but the trouble on boy and moved back into his cabin. He the last planet, and the emergency on needed less sleep, and had more the planet before that, he had been energy, his brain seemed clearer and working and sleeping with very little retained information more easily. leisure time to think about anything. His new found stamina was tested He peered at his face in the to the utmost when the ship was caught mirror. It was a young face, smooth in the swirling tail of meteor dust. and olive skinned with the pink The whole crew worked around their flushed cheeks of perfect health. His shifts with frantic speed. John dark eyes were still sparkling under gloried in the long sweating back- slanting narrow brows. Narrow? He breaking hours of work. stroked them with his long fingers.

THE MENTOR 72 page 8 They used to be heavier, and more The weeks slid past. The voyage bushy. of the Lucillus settled into placid He looked at his hands. They monotony. Planetfall would be some were still the same capable hands he time in the next ten days. John's always had, but they were smoother and young face was sulky and morose, and less knobbly, and there was no black although he worked like a demon on hair left on the joints of each finger duty, he was no longer a gregarious or the backs of his hands. crew mate off duty. After each shift Stricken with a he fled to the sanctuary of his cabin. terrible suspicion he 'Unpleasant bastard these days,' pulled off his commented the green-eyed biologist who coverall. He stared had long since found a more pleasant at it with distaste. cabin-mate. He had just scrubbed 'Yeah,' agreed the pert nursing and showered, but the sister. 'Something must be bugging clean clothes had him. He hasn't made a pass at any of black hairs all over us for over three months.' them. By God, he was Alone in his cabin, John lay on moulting! his bed clenching and unclenching his The mirror reflected fists. His body was changing. His his bewildered face body hair had rubbed off, and his and heavily muscled breasts pushed further and further brown body. He looked out. His hips were broadening, and down at his chest, the layer of fat collecting across his decorated with a few buttocks nearly had him weeping. scanty hairs. Was it He could rigidly bind his muscle or was there a breasts flat so no one would suspect, flabby swelling but the wider hips were altering his around his nipples? stride. He couldn't help but walk The door opened. with a willowy swing. 'Sleeping are you, Down in the stabiliser room Honey?' asked his someone limpwristed him out of the green-eyed cabin room to a chorus of low snickers. Not mate. only did the very sight of a female He grabbed his body, and there were plenty flaunted coverall to hide around the ship in the tight himself. 'Out you coveralls, make him physically sick, bitch,' he roared. but his sex organs were shrinking and He lay on his bunk atrophying. in a brooding fury. It was just before planetfall Was it because he was that it happened. He was bent over overtired, or did the inspecting the bases of the stabiliser longevity treatment shafts. A passing technician pinched cause loss of body him on the bottom. He swung around hair? Or perhaps, and flattened him with an outraged and he broke into a fury. cold sweat as he The Captain stood watching, and thought of it, was that was unusual. It was not like the there a female Captain to prowl the ship. There was hormone in the a nasty gleam in his eyes. longevity treatment? 'I'll see you in my office, His hand crept up to Mister Scarlett,' he ordered. finger the soft John followed him up to stand swelling around his behind the desk, and listen with nipple. disbelief. He had a sudden 'You're fired, Mister Scarlett. memory of the old man Carman is the new first engineer.' at the isolated 'A God damned woman in my job,' Captain's four John seethed. 'I appeal, Sir.' The fishing companions. Captain just glared across the desk at Five old men among him without replying. 'I'm entitled thousands of the to my rights. I haven't broken any popul- regulations.' ation on Thetis. What became of the The Captain tapped his finger at rest of the men as they grew older? the articles of the Company, set in In the quiet cabin, he started plastiflex under his desk cover, and to shake. His mind kept evading a spoke. conclusion that was lurking in his 'You've broken your conditions waiting subconscious. He kept his of contract, clause 10, sub section 11 mind hammering rigidly at the only (a).' important point. Was the process John promptly burst into tears. reversible?

THE MENTOR 72 page 9 'I didn't know,' he wailed. not the first to land on Thetis, you 'And I'm still a better engineer than know.' Carman. It doesn't change that!' 'I don't want to survive,' John The Captain looked embarrassed whispered. and handed him a handkerchief. The Captain shrugged and left 'It's not sexism,' he explained. the cabin. He was a humane man, but 'Transvestites attract all sorts of he was also the Company servant. The cranks and ratbags, and officially ex John Scarlett First Engineer would you're temple property, and can't be be kept under sedation until he was employed by the Company.' delivered back to Thetis. The 'What will I do?' John sobbed guardians would probably brainwash him into the Captain's large handkerchief. into acceptance of his femininity. 'You're contracted to the They had their techniques. After all, temple,' the Captain repeated, and they did it all the time. waved a hand in dismissal. The Captain's mind lingered on John lay in his bunk staring at his fishing companions on Thetis. the ceiling. The Captain came in with Four argumentative fishermen of two orderlies. integrity. The Captain wondered how 'Sorry son,' he said mildly. the others like them on Thetis were The orderlies put on the strait managing. Men were prepared to ignore jacket. John fought, but they knew longevity with its fifty per cent risk what they were doing. The pushed an of death, and to accept the option of injection into him, and went out, remaining male and ageing. closing the door softly. He strolled back to his office 'What was that for? Sir.' John to make out his usual disapproving snarled, straining against the canvas report on Thetis. Not that the Company folds and resisting the temptation to would be able to be talked out of its start weeping again. profitable trade with Thetis because 'The logical thing in your of the occasional drain of highly condition is suicide.' qualified crew members. As the 'Yeah,' John agreed morosely. Guardians smugly pointed out, the men 'The temple guardians will claim had always "of their own free will, damages against the Company if you do. volunteered for the process". You are our responsibility until I can The Captain sat down and glared get you shipped back to Thetis in one at his inoffensive dictaphone. piece.' Hundreds of spacemen enjoyed the 'In one piece!' John howled. hospitality of Thetis without being 'We'll do some tests,' the affected by contact. How did the Captain soothed. Guardians manage to set the highly The Captain visited a few days qualified spacemen they required so later. John's hair was growing. It effortlessly, and without losing a was a glossy tousled black, clinging single life in the process? around his ears and neck, and his huge Was it a coincidence that it was dark eyes were haunted and desperate. only those crew members who fancied He blinked the tears away from the they had a way with women who were long curling lashes and tried to grin. seduced into defecting? Did they have It came out as a tremulous dimpled a latent feminine streak that smile. attracted and accelerated a safe The Captain shifted uneasily and process of transition or were the avoided looking at the deep breasts highly qualified just plain stupid straining against the strait jacket. anyway? 'It's not reversible. The Captain shrugged. A female Biologically you're a male, but dominated society was unpredictable they've implanted something. A anyway. It was something he would parasitic tissue flooding something never be certain about. He had through your system. Your body is managed to escape Thetis at seventeen. fooled into thinking you're a nubile He started dictating. Fortunately he female, hormones and glands and cells had never been cursed with an urge for keep adapting to the messages they are female company, or a way with women. getting. It's what's reversing the His pleasures were fishing with the aging. Interesting really, the few friends of his childhood who still longevity is a female process, and a survived. male body adjusts by turning female.' In Thetis a way with women too 'Operate,' John begged through often led into the ultimate in dry lips. empathy, the inevitable transformation The Captain shook his head. 'By into a female with a way with men. the time we traced and cut out whatever is growing right through your - c - innards you wouldn't survive. You're THE END

THE MENTOR 72 page 10 VOLGACON! VOLGACON!

By Ron Clarke

It was roughly two years ago wrote to Igor saying, yes, I would be that Boris Zavgorodny and Igor going and he wrote back saying, good, Toloconnicou mentioned in and how about a 12 page report on correspondence to me that they were Australian SF and fandom? planning a convention in Russia. I went along to a local travel Early in 1990 they suggested that I agent in Sydney in June and and Susan come over. In March 1990 provisionally booked my flights. Igor Igor mentioned that he and Boris had invited me over for a month, all agreed to invite me as a Guest of expenses paid, but I didn't like to Honour. In a letter from Boris dated sponge on fans I had never met for May 1990 on an earlier Volgacon that length of time, so I settled for letterhead he confirmed the two weeks - one week at Volgacon, the invitation, and in a June 1990 letter other week travelling around. Igor mentioned that the name of the At about this time I thought, project was Volgacon 91. Ok, I've done about all I can for the Throughout all this I was time being, and let things ride till thinking: this sounds good, I had the 18th of June, when I confirmed my better start saving for the trip. It flights and paid for them on the 25th wasn't till March 1991 that it hit me July and received my air ticket on I had better start planning something the 29th of July. On the 29th of July concrete when I received a letter from I applied for a visa to visit the Igor with details of who to contact USSR, including the letter from Atom. after I had flight details. The visa application was supposed to I received two letters from take 14 days to process. On day 12 I Atom, an Association of Creative got a phone call at work from the Unions, in April inviting me to Consulate of the USSR - my visa Volgacon as a Guest of Honour and application had been rejected - the stating they would pay my expenses at letter from Atom was not enough. the con. One was in English the other There ensued about four early morning in Russian. After receiving these I (3 am) phone calls and one telex to

THE MENTOR 72 page 11 the USSR. It being impossible to hot pastry from a shop in the enormous telephone Volgograd, I made my contact transit lounge - it was one of two Michael Gakov, a translator in such and each served over 100 aircraft Moscow. I phoned him and he phoned bays. Volgograd. He thought it strange that We boarded the Aeroflot plane the Europeans didn't have any trouble at 6.45 pm. It was an Ilyushin IL-62, getting a visa. Sure, I said, but I am. with four engines on the tail - two on The next thing, in the mail I either side. When the crew sealed the received a lettergram from the doors, condensing air seemed to boil Executive Committee of the Volgograd out of the fluorescent lights along City Council, inviting me to visit the cabin roof of the aircraft. I Volgograd from 1 to 30 September 1991 didn't think the flight too bad - the to take part in the meeting of SF food was good, though the cabin was writers and Fans and my expenses would spartan - no inflight movies. be paid by Atom. It was signed by the The flight stopped to refuel at Chairman of the Executive Committee of Dubai airport and I spent an hour the Volgograd City Council. With this walking around the duty free shops, in hand I visited the Visa Section of looking at the gold coated cameras and the USSR Consulate and showed it to brassware. After landing at Moscow the officer concerned. He took it International Airport at 5.30 am I away and returned ten minutes later: waited till 7am in a hardly moving "Mr Clarke, you visa will be ready in line. There was only one line open five minutes." It actually took and Customs was processing one person fifteen, but who was complaining? and their mountain of luggage about In late August I purchases a once every twenty minutes. I managed Samsung compact camera with all the to shortcut the procedure and on going fiddlybits as I was determined that I through the gate met three young would have good photographs to go with Russians in their twenties, one of the article I was going to do on my whom was holding a small sign saying trip. I also bought nine reels of "Volgacon". They grabbed my bags and film for it, a bottle of whisky each showed me out into the 3 degrees C for Boris and Igor and a carton of US morning to the car-park. We all Marlboro cigarettes. I had my climbed into the small sedan - a well suitcases packed several days before used sedan, a typical fan's car - and "D" day, which was the 6th September, drove off. 1991. We were to go to meet one of the prominent Moscow fans, Alexi * * * Byezoogly. The day was cold and * mostly fine as we drove through the streets of Moscow. The fans pointed The alarm went off at out some of the landmarks - including 3.30 am on Friday the 6th of Red Square and some banners and September, 1991 and Susan and I got up posters which were left over from an and had a shower and a quick Afghanistan demonstration some days breakfast. I had packed the last earlier. things the night before and after The three dropped me off at breakfast I packed the Suzuki Alto. Alexi's ground floor flat and he We left home for the 1.5 hour drive to introduced me to his wife Olga and son the airport - 80 km away - at 4.45 am. Denis. Denis was avidly watching some After a easy drive through Sydney's videotaped cartoons and while Alexi suburbs we reached Sydney Kingsford went off to meet someone, Olga gave me Smith airport at 6.20 am. We had a meal and several cups of tea. It plenty of time before the plane left was around this time that I noticed and Susan and I sat down and I had a that the sore throat I had in Sydney glass of orange juice and Susan had a which had me coughing in the last few cup of coffee and a pastry. I booked hours of the flight about every ten my one large bag into the system and minutes, had gotten worse and as well, took my cabin bag through Immigration I was feeling some jet lag. and into the holding lounge. Susan Olga had some idea of how I felt left as she had to commence work at and let me sit down, sipping tea, Penrith at 8.30. eating biscuits and home-made jam and The Qantas 747 left on time at watching the video I brought from 8.45 am. The weather was good, though Australia of some early Australian the ground was misty, and for most of cons (1966 to 1971). I was surprised the trip to Singapore we cruised at that Alexi had a Pal video. It wasn't 10,000 metres and 970 kmph. The food until I got back to Australia with two was excellent and the movie watchable. video tapes that Igor Toloconnicou had We reached Singapore at 2.20 pm given me of Volgacon and they played Singapore time, ahead of schedule. ok on our VHS machine that I realised There was a 4.5 hour wait for that Pal and Seacam are compatible. the Aeroflot connection, so I sat with After that I watched some cartoons and a group of Russians who were going Denis showed me some of his dinosaurs. home on the same flight. I bought a

THE MENTOR 72 page 12 Alexi arrived back and at 1pm, small fruit and snack market, directed after gathering up my bags, we went by us to a red bus as she looked for any car to meet Michael Gakov, who was to other fans who had arrived. take me to Volgograd by train. I met Eventually we set off for the Hotel Michael at a street corner and we Tourist, which was on the banks of the walked to his flat - in this walk I Volga river - about 20 minutes drive found out just how heavy my bags were. out from the Centre of the city. I also saw the lack of maintenance Volgograd is a long and narrow city, that characterises Soviet buildings - stretching about 100 kilometres along holes in the footpaths and weedy lots. the Volga River. After going up in a lift and Arriving at the Reception area, unlocking numerous doors Michael we filled in our hotel forms and met opened his apartment door and the three translators - Masha, Olga introduced me to his smiling wife, and Anna. All were dressed quite Natasha. Michael then, after I had demurely, Masha in jeans and blouse, slipped off my shoes and donned Olga in a bright red dress offsetting slippers, showed me their small flat, her blonde hair, and Anna in blouse his books lining the wall and the pile and skirt. I was shown to my room on of them on the floor with slips of the eighth floor and told that lunch paper marking pages for his upcoming was then on. I hurried down to the book. After I had a quick shower main dining hall and as I was starting Natasha served a substantial hot lunch lunch I was told that the opening - cooked on a microwave oven - and ceremony was starting in ten minutes, after a rest Michael said goodbye to at 3 pm. Natasha and we both hefted our bags to The opening ceremony was very the Country station via bus and Metro. enthusiastic, with a compere Reaching the station we climbed introducing the foreign guests and a into the green painted carriage and chorus singing the Volgacon song. dumped our bags in the two-person There was then a short skit, followed sleeper compartment. While I settled by Boris Zavgorodny giving the down Michael visited the next introduction. The ceremony ended with compartment where three other Russians the whole audience standing up, who were also going to Volgacon were joining hands and singing the Volgacon sitting. I later met Mila, Edna and song. Boris, though because they didn't After the ceremony was over I speak any English (I spoke no Russian) went up to my room to unpack. There we couldn't converse at all. was a knock on my door and Masha The sleeping trains were very Pesikova, the translator in charge of much like the same in Australia - all the foreigners, entered with a man vinyl wood with small compartments, in tow. I had told her of my cough with a long corridor on the outside, and "ticklish throat" when I saw her and pulled by diesel engines. It was at lunch. She had brought a doctor here that I first met the lack of who worked for Atom. After examining toilet paper in public amenities - me he said I had bronchitis. He gave luckily one of the blokes in my office me some tea and herbs to drink and at work had mentioned this and said to they left, he to get me some take a full pack of facial tissues - antibiotics. they doubled for several jobs. Dinner was at 7 pm. The doctor came to the door to take me to dinner: * * * "Hurry," he said. Dinner was nearly * over - I had not changed my watch from Moscow time, Volgograd time being one The journey took from 3pm on the hour different. 7th September till 2 pm on the 8th - Dinner was up in a gallery in which was actually 24 hours because of the dining room - some of the foreign time zones. I was coughing all the guests, myself included, tried to eat way. Most of the time I stayed in the down stairs with the other fans, but compartment I shared with Michael and we were firmly but politely shown the watched the countryside roll by. It stairs. Foreign guests ate upstairs. was very much like Australia - flat, The food was good, unlike most con green/yellow and with not many people food - at one point I said this to a visible. What was different was the Russian fan - and he said "You should trees - birch and aspen - and the come and eat the food downstairs!" villages. Some were built roughly of After dinner I returned to my wood, some were painted deep blues, room and lay down, feeling tired. greens and brown, some were grey and Shortly after I entered the doctor had steep galvanised iron rooves and returned with Masha, and gave me two some were painted white. All were in types of antibiotic tablets and a different styles, but all were square. mustard poultice on my back. After Some had the US barn-like rooves. lying on my back for twenty minutes We were met at Volgograd Central feeling it getting hotter and Station by Tatijna Pridannikova who, stinging, I was relieved to have them after we looked around the thriving taken off, leaving the skin a swollen

THE MENTOR 72 page 13 red. It seemed to work; over the next few days, my sore throat grew less, though my cough persisted. I had a good night's sleep at last - I had only dozed on the train - and rose to a sunny day - the previous afternoon it had rained.

* * * *

At breakfast the next morning, the 9th, I met Friedel Wahren from the West German publishing house Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, Eric Simon, a writer and translator from former East Germany and Ivailo Roumev from Bulgaria. Later US authors Chris Stasheff, Terry Bisson and Paul Park turned up, along with Terry's partner Judy Jrusen. Across from us was author Jim Hogan from Ireland and Chris Chivers, president of the Birmingham (England) SF Group and a Japanese fan, whose name I never did get. Masha came in later with a harried look that intensified as the con progressed, followed by Olga, who went off to see what was keeping the next serve of breakfast. At 10am there was a Reports Presentation in the Main Hall from sf groups half-way through which I was called up to the stage to give a talk on Australian SF. I gave a short history of Australian fandom, the cons staged and mentioned all the Australian SF authors I could think of, leading off with A Bertram Chandler. Of course I had left my notes in my room...

THE MENTOR 72 page 14 THE MENTOR 72 page 15 After my talk the main topics * * * were the difference between Soviet and * US SF. There was mention of a "New Wave" in Soviet SF. The point was I had a good night's sleep and made by the US guests that the "New went down to the 9am breakfast, which Wave" in US writing was 1967-1973. consisted of tomatoes, melon juice, After the panel I looked around tea/coffee and scrambled egg, cooked the rego desk - they had a huckster's flat with a browned top. There was section where people were selling joking conversation with Chris Chivers paperbacks and magazines, then went to and Jim Hogan, both of whom were my room for another antibiotic. At telling multi-cultural jokes. They the 2pm lunch I spoke to the young fan were the same jokes told world wide, Valerii Ponomariov, who wanted to know with different nationalities as the what we had had for lunch the previous fall guys. After breakfast I was day when the foreign guests were sent supposed to have a creative meeting upstairs. After discussing this we with readers - but the room was found that the fans downstairs had locked. After about twenty minutes received a different meal - no ice- Boris arrived with a key, and after cream, for instance. placing a note on the notice board, At my table for lunch were fans about 20 fans turned up. I answered from Japan, Bulgaria, United Germany questions about producing fanzines and and myself. After lunch at 3 pm Chris why. Most of the fans in the audience Stasheff, Larry McCaffrey, Masha were fanzine fans, from all over the Pesikova and Jim Hogan were on a "talk USSR. I showed around covers of to the audience" panel where the fans Australian fanzines, including ASFR, asked questions. There was general SFR, ETHEL THE AARDVARK and THE discussion on SF genres in the US MENTOR. The talk went over well, with scene, including science fantasy which many questions. Stasheff says he writes, sword and After this was lunch, which was sorcery, "hard" SF and others. soup, lamb, tomatoes, and a pastry for McCaffrey spoke on Feminist SF and its desert. After lunch Professor growing popularity in the USA. Hogan McCaffrey gave a two hour talk on spoke about his novel, THE GENESIS Cyberpunk and its connections with MACHINE and the use of hyperspace and Post-Modernism, and Virtual Reality. how some of his books, published Masha did a stirling job keeping up several years ago, preceded scientific with the technical terms, with help research in the direction the novels from the audience. Apparently she had went. He then went on to talk of to translate word for word, and I'm formula writing and Stasheff brought not sure if some of the complex ideas up Regency Romances as an example of got across. how the author had to manipulate the After the talk, I met with the events in a fairly rigid framework. editors of the Kiev fanzine The Soviet fans asked many CHERNOBYLIZATION. (I came home with probing questions and all seemed many Soviet SF fanzines (and SF pleased with the panel results. magazines and books), some of whose Later at the 7pm dinner Terry covers are reproduced in this Bisson and the others at my table article). I also met Alexandre discussed the language difficulties Nikolaenko, the fan who saw my address noted by the translators. Masha in an issue of the Soviet magazine seemed bemused by the using of the TEKHNIKA MODLOJOZHI back in the early word "sin" in an SF context. She also 1980s and gave it to Boris Zavgorodny had not heard of the children's books who started the correspondence with me using "painting by numbers". that eventually brought me to After dinner as we were walking Volgacon. by rego, Jim Hogan was bailed up by an Dinner was baked chicken - and "inventor" who thought Jim could give very nicely cooked. All the meals him a lead into contact with an were served hot and were delicious. software manufacturer for his At 8.30 that night all the foreign (unwritten) program for generating guests were taken by car to a party at ideas for stories. Jim had been a Atom's office. The Atom executives computer salesman before writing full were there: Yuri Baldayev and Margaret time. It took what seemed like half Kolobova and others. There was fresh an hour for Anna (the other red and black caviar and ham and translator) to get rid of him. tomatoes on thin bread. 67 year old Shortly after that I went off to Georgian brandy was served (very bed, as I was still feeling extremely smooth!) and tea and coffee later. tired. The doctor came and applied The party went on to 11.30 pm and was more mustard poultices to my back and very well received by the guests. I Igor Toloconnicou turned up to confirm met several Soviet SF authors and my fanzine talk the next day. I got publishers and got to know the other to bed about 11pm. guests better. Everyone had an excellent night.

THE MENTOR 72 page 16 When I got back to my room I contacted the doctor, as ordered, who had a room in the hotel, and he placed another set of poultices on my back.

* * * *

With the sun streaming through the window facing the Volga, the next morning's (Wednesday's) breakfast went over well. After it everyone set out at 11 am in two busses to visit a "folk restaurant". This was a replica Cossack village, complete with Cossacks in national dress. We wandered through the village and the Cossacks sang songs and gave the foreigners a certificate which pledged the Cossack's aid in any future distress. The busses then drove about 100 metres to the restaurant - a very large ediface, and we had a full and leisurely lunch of tomatoes and ham, then mutton soup.

THE MENTOR 72 page 17 THE MENTOR 72 page 18 This was followed by chicken and which was passed around by the vegetables, then by a pancake-like singers. Beer was in plenty and later affair which was covered in honey. It Masha went to the ship and got snacks was filling - and excellent. Of and we had a cheerful dinner, though course vodka, as well as fruit juices with sticky fingers. and wine was served with the meal. After many songs, with the In the latter part of the meal failing light the ship's horn summoned one of the Russians announced he was a us back. With everyone back on board "Russian nobleman" and proposed a they moved out from the shore and toast to "The Emperor" - one of the started cruising again. After an hour Romanoffs. Other fans heckled him and and a half of this, the Volgacon when he started singing the old organisers announced the Miss Volgacon Imperial song, they started singing competition. The five women entrants the Russian national anthem. had been previously given a white bed At 2pm we left on the 2 hour, 73 sheet and asked to make a costume out km trip back to Volgograd, during of it. They had to parade, recognise which several of the drunk Russian SF quotes, name as many SF authors as fans tried to get the Americans and they could, say why they read SF and Chris Chivers to join them in a drink. what their costume represented. All It was a boisterous trip home to the of the women were beautiful and all hotel. received ovations. There were four We had a late dinner at 7.30 thousand voting tickets given out pm. I then had a short talk with Efin among the 300 fans on the boat and (Eric) Sur, Editor-In-Chief of MEGA thus the result couldn't be given magazine about me doing an article on until the banquet the next night. Australian SF and its history. He After the competition it was also invited me to see him if I nearly dark and there was a disco with managed to get to Minsk on my trip. pulsing lights. I had several dances The doctor didn't turn up that with Mavluda Ibrahimova from Tashkent, night - I found out later I was until we got tired and went below apparently supposed to ring him. I decks where we saw the last 15 minutes didn't. of OMEN 3, which was followed by ROBOTECH, in Russian. * * * The ship pulled alongside the * pier at 11.30 pm and we got back to the hotel at 12 pm. Some of the At breakfast a money changer teenage Soviet fans were sick from the sidled up and asked me if I wanted to beer. change dollars to roubles. Olga came up and after some animated * * * conversation, he left. After * breakfast I went to my room for a rest. I woke at 8 am on Friday (the Lunch was at 1pm, the auction 13th) after a good sleep - having and exhibitions being put off till taken a Mercendol for my headache. 6pm. Judy Jrusen gave me her portion I had a shower and went down to also and said she wasn't going on the breakfast. I arranged with Chris cruise coming up later that day. Chivers to walk that morning to the Masha was running around trying to get "Defending Motherland" monument to everyone to the early lunch on time so take photos. As we walked through the we could leave for the boat cruise. rego area a TV crew was taking She was looking more and more tired. background scenes (fans reading books The boat cruise had been put and selling zines, etc). forward to 1.30 pm and as we walked It was a warm, though overcast, out of the hotel we passed a truckload day as we walked up to the main road, of watermelons and beer being loaded across it, up the long flight of steps from the hotel for the cruise. After leading up the hill, down over the a short bus ride the group arrived at railway line (as the bridge was being Pier 13 and went on board. The ship repaired) and up more steps, then cruised for several hours up and down along the tree lined path to the large a stretch of the Volga, and then it Pool of Remembrance. On the hill the turned and ran its bow up onto the statue is built on, some 70,000 shore of the large island (several Russians died in WWII defending it kilometres long) in the centre of the from the Germans. We reached it at 11 river. A gangway was lowered and we am, and we hurried to the tunnel into all got off to explore. The two the hill as we had heard that the Germans and I went off together in the changing of the guard took place on same direction. the hour. As we strode up the tunnel After about a half hour tramping we heard the stomping of the guard and over the sand-dunes we found Masha's we emerged into the large chamber group sitting on the ground on the way holding the eternal flame as the six back, and joined them. There was much guards were high-stepping up the singing, accompanied by a guitar, sloping path leading to the large

THE MENTOR 72 page 19 archway showing daylight. The chamber was enormous, with the hand holding the flaming torch rising from a polished marble floor. After the guards had gone we went through to the enormous statue of the woman with the sword erect and took numerous photos. The statue was certainly large - there was a lift in the sword and windows could be seen in its blade. Unfortunately it was closed to the public. We walked back to the hotel, still sweating, but the wind rose and by the time we got back we were hurrying inside. I had a quick wash in my room - there was no hot water for a shower - and had a rest before lunch. Igor Toloconnicou hailed me and asked which cities I wanted to visit after the con. I said "Minsk". He took my passport and Soviet visa for endorsement.

THE MENTOR 72 page 20 THE MENTOR 72 page 21 After lunch we attended the Stasheff, Masha and myself. Mash was "Writers, Editors and Publishers" very quiet during breakfast. Later panel - and spent half an hour trying she left the table and came back with to get into the hall by jemmying the passports - she gave me mine back, door - it was locked. Then someone along with my visa stamped for Minsk. turned up with the key. The panel About half the foreign guests were consisted of Chris Chivers, Chris leaving today and were getting their Stasheff, and Larry McCaffrey, with things together. Some had already Michael Gakov, and later Anna, left. translating. There were general On the way up to my 8th floor questions from the audience, but the room there were six people in the lift following talk centred on the fact - the limit was five. So Chris that Soviet SF writers needed to get Chivers did what the Russians used to an agent to sell their works, as the do when the lift refused to leave - Western publishers work through leaned back on the wall and pushed the agents. In fact the Western authors opposite wall with his feet. The lift said that the Soviet writers need to started up again. get an agent there in the USSR, who There were three lifts - one would then contact an agent overseas. went all stops, the other two After the panel discussion there alternated - 1,3,5,7 etc and 1,2 4, 6, was a break from 5.30 pm to 8 pm - the 8 etc. I usually used the stairs banquet had been put back. (All going down. There was a char lady on through the convention all the foreign my floor who had a tea urn simmering guests commented on how Volgacon was and gave hot water and tea when asked. like a Western con. The only thing As a guest left their room to go which ran on time was the opening downstairs they were supposed to hand ceremony). their key (which was attached to a I was invited to a room party large aluminium cylinder about 6 cms with Paul Park, Judy Jrusen, Terry long) to her to put in a little Bisson, the Russian translator Sasha, upright case on her desk. Michael Gakov, and others. I took the last Amoxyl tablet. Later at the banquet all the I still had a "loose" cough, but my convention attendees ate together in throat still tickled in air- the main dining hall. There was a conditioning. small display of SF paintings. At my Larry McCaffrey, Anna Prokofieva table there was Terry Bisson, Masha - (the other blonde translator), Chris whose duties were over and who was Chivers and I left for Volgograd city drinking vodka and was determined to at 11 am, after dragging Larry away get "shit-faced drunk". She was so from an interview with a fan. We tired the drink hit her fast and she walked up alongside the two 20 year retired early. Igor came and sat down old apartment buildings to the light and joined in the conversation. rail station on one of the main roads Boris Zavgorodny introduced the out of Volgograd. Anna gave us some sponsors of the convention, who were of her tickets (they were 15 Kopeks a mostly publishers: "Ismerenie" from St journey, about .5c US) and after we Petersburg, "Eridan" from Minsk, reached the city proper we went past 3 "Asmadei" from Moscow, "Avesta" from stations in the underground. When we Chelyadisk, "Yumi" from Novocherkassk, emerged the sun was out but the wind "Daimon" from Dnepropetrousk, "Ruskoe was cold. KIno" from Moscow, "Haiteh" from We walked down to the Volga Odessa, "Vtompf" from Tiraspol, river to a museum - one of the bombed- "Renessans" from Alma-Ata and "Atom" out buildings left from WWII when the from Volgograd. He then introduced city was flattened by the "fascists". the winner of "Miss Volgacon" - Also on display were aircraft, guns Valeria. Illa Tiuug, who came second, and tanks. The planes had had no was married with two kids. There was maintenance and were falling to bits. a short dance by the organisers and After climbing over the tanks then an auction of some tee shirts and for a closer look, we walked up to one painting. The rest of the time "the best restaurant in Volgograd". was spent talking among the guests. It was a Chinese restaurant and was a Several hours later the dancing hard currency restaurant - so the commenced. When this started at 11 pm ordinary Russians didn't attend. We I went to bed. ordered mixed dishes. After we consumed several drinks of beer and * * * coke they brought a pork dish, a beef * dish, a vegetable dish and a lamb dish. When Larry asked where was the Saturday the 14th dawned dry and rice, the waitress replied they didn't warm. Breakfast was three thin slices have any. Everyone at the table of salami-like sausage on a plate with laughed. This was typical of Soviet one tomato. There was also bread, Russia. After the meal Larry cheese and apple juice. Seated at my commented that the only authentic table was Chris Chivers, Chris Chinese thing in the meal was the

THE MENTOR 72 page 22 sesame sauce, which was served in a bed - and I joined the other eight. small china tea pot. The fans there were Alexandre The bill came to almost US40, Sudozovitch, Vladmir Lariinov, which included about 8 cans of beer, Nikishina Ludmila, Alexandre which were about US$2.20 each. When Olensenko, Mvlaimir Magnitogorsk, Larry bought some cigarettes at the Nikolenko Titarpol, Vladimir Vasilyev, bar, they were also about US$2.20 a one other and myself. Several fans pack. Both the beer - Carlsburg - and came in and left after a short time, the cigarettes - Salem - were including Tatajna Pridannikova. imported. Discussions ranged over many We then walked around the city subjects: fanzines, prozines, the and then Larry and Anna went back to various fandoms in the various Soviet the hotel by train. There was a cities and in Czechoslovakia. "Festival of Volgograd" and one of the Throughout I sipped from a bottle of main streets was closed off. People beer. I had given up saying I didn't were selling clothes, vegetables, drink, but I had found that the beer onions, trinkets, flour, etc out of didn't upset my stomach or give me a the back of trucks. I don't know if hangover the next day if I took it this was the usual Saturday thing, or easy. Various fans handed around if it was because of the Festival. snacks of fish, sausage, cheese and Chris and I arrived back at the bread. Alexandre Nikolaenko (the fan hotel and commented how quiet it was - who had given my address to Boris) was most of the fans had departed for home there and I gave him the Australian by this time. As I walked around the and Singapore coins I had. foyer after having a wash in my room I When I left the party much later met Judy and Terry. They said they Boris Zavgorodny was still asleep. I would be leaving the hotel at 6 am the got back into bed and was woken at 1 following morning so I had a coffee in am by Igor Toloconnicou to say he had their room and discussed the been trying to contact me to get my convention and its points of large suitcase which I had been trying similarity with Western Conventions. to get someone to take to Moscow, as I Apparently Volgacon was considered by didn't want to drag it along to Minsk. the Soviets as the first "Western" I repacked it and Igor took it with style convention, with panels, fancy him. dress, banquet and visiting guests talking with fans. Most Soviet * * * conventions were planed about two * months ahead, were held over a weekend and had hard drinking both day and I awoke to the sound of crows night, with possibly an awards (the only birds I saw in Russia were presentation at some point during the crows, doves and sparrows and the day. Volgacon, of course, went for a animals were cats and the occasional week and sometimes had several strands dog) and, after a shower, went down to of programming. breakfast at 9 am. I was the only one At 3pm we went down to lunch. there. The hotel had laid out There was a wedding with loud music in breakfasts for about eight on two the upstairs level, so we had lunch tables. downstairs. Halfway through it Olga came in We didn't linger over lunch - with another fan who spoke a little the music was very loud. I spoke to English who asked if I was staying for Igor about where I was going after the lunch. I said it was up to Igor. con finished - he said he and I would Boris Zavgorodny later came up and be flying to Minsk, but that the also asked me what I was doing. I Aeroflot office didn't open until told him the same thing. Monday to let us book our tickets. I packed up the remainder of my Since I was flying out of Moscow for belongings and sat reading. The hotel Australia the following Sunday, this rooms were quite ordinary. Mine had didn't give us much time. I told him two beds (the room the party had been I had nothing to do till then and he in had only one bed, and was smaller), said he would look into getting a B&W tv which picked up 1.5 channels, something organised. one of which showed hockey most of the Things were very quiet after the time, and an empty fridge. The hotel 8 pm dinner and I went to bed after was air-conditioned. The hot water it. At about 9.30 pm Vladmir seemed to work only in the mornings, Larionov, the young bearded Russian but then this was the same all over who was nearly never sober, knocked on Russia that I travelled. my room door and invited me up to see At lunch the only other persons Boris Zavgorodny who "had been present in the gallery was Ivailo drinking vodka, but would be awake in Roumev, the Bulgarian fan, and Olga. an hour or so". After lunch Boris Zavgorodny came up There was just enough space in and we went back to the party in room Room 905 for one more person - Boris 905. I stayed there with Boris, Igor, was asleep on the other half of the Tatijna and the rest until 5 pm when I

THE MENTOR 72 page 23 went to my room, picked up my bags, talking and watching a video of an locked the door, gave the key for the earlier 1991 St Petersburg con. Sasha, last time to the char lady and joined Igor and I left for the train at 9 pm Boris, Igor, Sasha and Ivailo to go to on which Igor's father met us, Boris' flat by light rail and trolley dropping off Igor's 3 year old bus. daughter, Mary. The carriage had Boris' flat consisted of only wooden slat seats which were quite one room in a two room apartment (the wide, and many broken windows other room was taken by a woman and Igor's wife, Masha, met us at her daughter and large dog) plus a the unlit station and we walked short corridor and kitchen and through the dark streets and parks bathroom/toilet. Books lined four (hardly any street lights) to their walls two deep and a double-bed apartment building. Igor showed me mattress filled the remainder of the around their quite large apartment floor. Outside the bedroom was a while Masha heated rice and meat and short corridor packed with coats and made tea for supper, which Igor and I next door was the kitchen with a table got stuck into. After the supper Igor with Boris' two goldfish tanks, at and I stayed up till 1 am talking which he also wrote and studied. about publishing and agencies and I We spent the next three hours eventually went to bed in a fold-out drinking beer and vodka, eating corn- divan in their living room. on-the-cob and stewed meat, and (Continued next issue) Voyage from the City of the Sun to Worlds Underground

by Andrew Darlington

20/8/1977 he drifts over winter moons, Earth separates breathing Titan's Voyager 2 nitrogen air 200 below zero at 25,000 mph He's stick-insect thin, Derek is 18 white face, acne giving predominately male, but him a lunar aspect, with occasional doubts, indolent, evasive, growing distancaes... occluding by a greasy Jupiter: 9/7/1979 black ellipse of hair, his scan-platforms tilt dreams darkening at a slender ring held in tidal gravity, Uranus: 24/1/1986 his eyes drink complex magnetic fields throb, Io's startle of weave veins of zonal laceration sulphur volcanoes, while through a single anthracite ring hunting chrysanthemums as he watches of magma he hears Oberona nd Titania Mozart, birdsong, shatter and re-form a baby crying. he waits for something He's lost, vast to occur, often adrift no point expending between Mars energy unnecessary and Manchester exertion until it does Saturn: 25/8/1981 Neptune: 25/8/1989 there's debris within a 4hr signal the motion of moons, a 2,800 millionmile 10,000 strands of separation. Derek is 30, braided satellites, travelling at 60,000 mph a carnage of scan-patterns feeding low over pulse weakening signals that Triton's methane ice, take 1hr 25mins to reach its iridescent chill him, slipping beneath his skin, voices carry greetings silent storms of in sixty languages 700 mph cyclones through his spinal column, race behind his retina the scars of Mimas glint as

THE MENTOR 72 page 24 as the Pakistani girl Derek separates, in the corner shop smiles back smiles at him to Earth 20/8/2017 each guessing beyond gravity's rim, at unimaginable the heliopause, connections Voyager 2 accelerating to come to 65,000 mph after 4.400 million miles

THE MENTOR 72 page 25 An Open Letter From

The Paranoid Android

Dear Sasha, showed a new side of some of the ladies attending the con and opened up On behalf of the Volgacon Escape a new of Anglo/American Soviet Committee I must contratulate you on relations. bringing the U.S.S.R. into the real Larry McCaffre y (not the world. The last seven days have been progeny of one M/s A McCaffrey) author an education to us from the free of such tomes as CASEBOOK OF worlds of fandom, and we would like to CYBERPUNK, STORMING THE REALITY congratulate you and welcome you to STUDIO, felt very much at home in the fandom in general. As you have been Virtual Reality world of the ex- able to withstand the "pundays" of communist state. Larry even had the James P. Hogen, (he of INHERIT THE dubious honour of finding the only STARS, ENDGAME ENIGMA, THE PROTEUS Chinese restaurant in Volgograd; but OPERATION fame) you are gaining the really Larry, did we really have to resilience of a true Science Fiction provide our own rice! addict. Even Ron Clarke, the editor of The reserves of unpublished Australia's oldest fanzine THE MENTOR, novels and short stories in the ex- was making remarks that the seriously Eastern block must be vast due to the bad-fans had a lot to answer for in repression of the seriously bad non- the way that the quality of the Con's fans that have held the reins of power organisation had been set up. I mean, for so long, and when possible you where were the Gophers? Not one to be must come to see how a convention is seen, and almost no dealers; where run in the West, but I beg you not to could we spend our money, all those fly Aeroflot as the pilots seem intent smuggled-in U.S. dollars? on attending a Kamikaze reunion, and ATOM Ltd, the hosts of the we would prefer you to be reasonably convention, entertained the foreign sane and not due for a rest in a guests at their headquarters, and Yuri Siberian holiday camp. Baldaev, the managing director, was We found the food, after many hard pressed to overcome the official hours searching, wholesome and tasty, government inertia to provide an but 300 calories a day does not let excellent evening for us. I must, of you do any serious drinking, that is course, mention our over-worked if you can find the beer. Even Chris translators Masha and Anna who were Stasheff would wish that his Warlock always there to help whenever needed, series could conjure up a decent and gave unstinting of what little steak, and we have been worried that free time they had. his loss of weight would let him fall But what would make a grown fan down one of the many open manholes in really cry was the lack of a bar in the road. the convention hotel. Gasp! shock! When we were able to open the horror! what, no bar!!! but as usual convention hall we were able to yours truly managed to find a participate in the numerous panel converted hotel room that sold Dutch discussions, and the search for lager and snacks that passed for a knowledge by the Russian authors about (bar)? area but definitely did not Western publishing was indeed have the same ambience as a normal prodigious, but the previously convention booze pit. mentioned non-fans must realise that The Eastern block is definitely they have to pay royalties on an making great strides towards a Western author's work! The trip down the life style and Soviet fandom I'm sure Volga river was interesting, but I will become a major force in the SF thought the idea was to ride on the world in the years to come. How the boat, not to tow it along, so bringing hotel services will measure up could a whole new meaning to the Volga boat be a stumbling block to fans from the song. The Miss Volgograd contest West who wish to attend future

THE MENTOR 72 page 26 conventions in the former Eastern sure that they take you to your European countries; and a certain aircraft at least half an hour before amount of give and take must be your scheduled departure time, allowed, even if a meal does take over otherwise the representatives can tend two hours to arrive. At the present to overlook you, and leave you time basics like food, toilet paper, stranded at the internal airport bath plugs, sweets and decent beer are (Domodedovo) till the following in very short supply, or even non morning. The taxis in Moscow are existent, so a Soviet con is supposed to be regulated to only take definitely an adventure. The one Roubles, but if they hear any trace of thing that the Russians have got down a foreign accent the fare is pat is the current rate of the Rouble immediately quoted in Dollars to the Dollar, and what rate of regardless of what is shown on the exchange to give to the "tourist" in clock. Also, trying to find a taxi in Moscow's infamous Arbat (Black the evening is almost impossible, as Market). the taxi drivers seem to have cornered I must take my travel agent to the market in the illegal vodka trade. task. Thomas Cook may be able to But on behalf of all the Western arrange Tours of the Galaxy, but the guests at Volgacon, we are looking information that they have concerning forward to next years convention. an independent traveller to Russia is Cheers! falling way behind the actual truth of the matter. You must allow at least four hours to travel between Regards Sheremetyevo II airport and your departure airport in Moscow. When Paranoid Android. dealing with "Intourist" you must make

THE MENTOR 72 page 27 Twelve Bar Access

by Bill Congreve

Dor was feline. Retractable person had dared so much on this claws, a short, tawny pelt, and station. slitted golden eyes graced a tall, The player sat on the floor with lean figure that moved with cat-like his back to the wall. He could see agility because her lifestyle demanded further around the up-curve that way it. This was wholly her choice. Her and would have seen her before she saw family hated her, had cut her off from him. The music didn't miss a beat. A her birthright because of it. About view of the Earth, forty thousand it, they could do nothing. The family kilometres distant, slowly rotated wasn't important; she could Access her before him, but she wondered how much birthright despite their restrictions, more of his attention was on that. He and the operation/change had been paid was young, unChanged, and wore faded for many years before. and not quite dirty jeans, a T-shirt Independence. that read "Stonehenge or bust", and a She had no regrets. Passing faded paisley dinner vest. A string time had brought her normality, but laced with worn silicon chips hung she would never be ordinary. Techno- about his neck. She almost laughed to respect was a new term, but Dor had see someone so innocent, harmless and ample of it from her peers. She was anachronistic. There was an upturned comfortable. hat next to his feet that had one coin With her truck docked behind in it. her, Dor stalked the centre of the A busker. That had never been arrival foyer of the stati-sat. She done here before. chose the centre because that allowed Fight for me her the greatest distance from any Won't you fight for me danger that may appear from walls or Because if you do ceiling. Night, and the diversion I'll die for you caused by the explosion of a Simple blues, key of B, and corporation shuttle, should ensure her balls ancient. The man - balls he was isolation. She left the foyer and young to be unChanged, and now even chose a corridor that led around the parents Changed their kids without rim of the sat. being asked - looked up as he It was easy for a feline to continued. stalk in low-g, especially when the Caution flies in the forward direction sloped up around the wind rim of the sat. She constantly held In the places where you go her head low and looked ahead and up Won't you fight for me in order to see the greatest distance. And I'll die for you As for stalking? It was unconscious; a reaction brought on by the Suspicion flared into certainty. circumstances. It looked good. It was close. Too close. She kicked The Hope was lost inside, and it him, hard, and didn't retract her was her business to find him. Balls claws as she did so. He winced, and to her family who had taken him. blood trickled from a shallow cut on Sentiment meant nothing to them. It his leg onto the sterile floor. was a mindless corporation that had 'What do you know?' done the deed. 'I came here.' From ahead came the strains of She pricked her ears, and he music. There was no wall of sound recognised the question. Good, he effect and amplification - just a knew that much then. She would've single six string guitar. Dor stifled killed him outright if he hadn't seen an audible reaction. The sound was it. 'You are seeking Ramez.' live, unexpected, and totally alien to Again Dor said nothing. This this place. It was years since a time there was no need. Not ten

THE MENTOR 72 page 28 people in the system knew the Hope by software directed by the permanent that name, and they were all his neural connections of that CPU. Her friends. Perhaps the Company... no, consciousness was free to move about they weren't good enough. the network, and to initiate action 'Someone must walk behind you.' within it. All thought was now, by There was that problem. Link definition, rigorous. Emotions must only took seconds, but there was be logically deduced from data before, and there was after, and there available in memory. This is how she was the time it would take her to find knew she must come here and do this; Access. every time she Accessed, she She nodded and moved on, reinforced her knowledge of her love searching for Access, and still not for her son, the Hope. certain she shouldn't have killed the The tiger was the vanity with man. which she chose to clothe herself in Dor found Access too this place. In this silicon maze it conveniently just around the curve and was more real than the changes in her out of sight of the busker. There was own body. a public use terminal, a VDU, and an Dor was feline. interactive users plug in a cubicle She was free to find Hope, and near a window that faced away from the to rescue him from the software that Earth. A serious user was going to held him trapped away from his body. Access in the middle of a public Shit! She wished she had some choice corridor? While she was under she in the matter. Balls, did the would be comatose. Possibly it was corporation (fuck the family anyhow) safe, but she ignored the set-up and think that napping Hope's mind would went on until she came to a door with cause her to support them? The a sign that read something about air- corporation was too big. It had to conditioning and maintenance personnel go. only. Inside she found better Access. A quick check of the capacity of The equipment was the same as the the network revealed several databases other, but it obviously saw heavier large enough to hide Hope. Security use, and some of that was for vital didn't bother her. With time she functions. could Access and rewrite any software, Not ideal, no, but it would have and there was always some method to to do. transfer across boundaries between She activated the terminal, hardware. plugged the interactive jack into the She instituted a search at the female socket mated to the spinal cord top of the data. If data is not equal in the back of her neck, and shuddered to Hope, then return. Go to previous at the icy, intimate, privacy-lost step. Call next file. Else shout! shock as her mind and her entire If data is not equal... nervous system rubbed edges with the She set that program free and live hardware. She sensed rather than began another search after one third felt the anticipatory tingle of live of the data. She began another near data that waited the other side of the end. Access. It was delicious and shocking Dor didn't expect it to work, at the same time. It was a feeling of and it didn't. The procedure was too give and take, like the best sex, but simple and would fool nobody, but it with no information flow either way. did give her a list of flies and Good, she thought, there was real addresses large enough to contain the capacity here. data that was now the mind of a fine Dor settled herself on the young hack. The files were larger couch, drew the keyboard above her, than those normally used to contain and regarded the screen. She began. human personalities. She had to stop [Systems Operations] - easy. that. Sentiment wouldn't help her [Create file - authorize Access] here. Still easy; these codes and passwords Nothing about the set-up she knew! reassured her. READ*: {------} Nobody She set an automatic command would discover that name - ever! about herself. If search is equal to ACCESS*: TIGER zero, then RETURN*, {------} and TIGER/Dor was interactive. The stop. It was basic security. There last thing she remembered was her must also be traps here for her. thighs instinctively clenching and her Microseconds later the search body trembling into an orgasm that routine finished and stopped. A new would last until she broke Access. piece of data was read from an outside She would come out of this with her source into the banks she was body feeling fresh and relaxed. accessing. A binary image of a large, *Hope is not equal to zero* female Bengal tiger built up in the Dor computed an impulse to run, processing unit of the network. Her to get out before she too could be intellect assumed the dimensions of engulfed in software against her will. the CPU, and part of her mind became She stopped it before it could

THE MENTOR 72 page 29 process, and then momentarily cursed time, and had made obvious her the old-fashioned sentiment that distaste for family sponsored caused her to be there. Running was corporate life. Her family had what they wanted. She looked reacted by locking all financial carefully and found the trap. If... control of her shares behind very She had come blundering in here, elaborate security software. That was making noise for all the world to okay for awhile, she was better off hear, and they had heard. To get out, without them all, but now the sheer she had to think. size of the corporation was impinging *Your hold on me is thin* on her life. It was too big, and too *Query* dangerous to her and to those she She ignored the question, and loved. She no longer denied her instead investigated its source. responsibility. If she gained access This was another trap: of that to her shares, she would sell them there could be little doubt. She short, start a rush,and destroy the couldn't penetrate it in any way. family. There was no wall of security; this Balls to them anyhow. was an entirely separate processing So now the corporation had laid and storage unit connected to the rest a trap, and the only people who knew of the network only by a one-way, it was absolutely pointless were those "read only" link. The hardware caught in it. allowed only a one-way passage of The situation had all the right information, and her attention had settings. The only thing missing was been called to it by a noisy little motivation. Surely the corporation subroutine in the main network. knew her well enough to know that she A subroutine had to be called by wouldn't blindly follow Hope into the something. The culprit was probably trap simply because he might already the program that had detected her be there. She had some use for search. sentiment, but she wasn't that stupid. She was stymied, and hated to There had to be something else; deduce it. What action could she take something immediately obvious to her, now? RETURN*, and start lugging or it wouldn't serve its purpose. hardware wholesale back to her truck Her first search had been of in the hope she had the right unit? active units - software and powered up That would only get her killed. hardware. Her second investigation At least she would kill that shit for was more thorough. There was a brains busker first. He knew completely inactivated unit attached something or he would not be there in the hardware of the trap, and when "guarding her back". She deduced she flashed a small amount of power to hatred for coming this far only to be it she found a program which would frustrated by a smartarse. But if he transmit information out of the knew, and he was no expert, then there entrapment data bank before it was had to be an answer. erased and new information recorded. A trap for her? Hope would be returned to the network There was little she could do as she entered the trap. So, Hope was that Hope could not also do, even at irrelevant; it was her they were his age, but did the family know that? after. They could not yet know how good he Dor investigated again. was; that he could do so much more There was a mechanical counter that she couldn't. I'm good. I'm on the unit. The return loop could be going to be the best! he had boasted used once only. She would be trapped to her only once. Only she knew it; then, and Hope would be free. That she had watched the potential growing was just like her family. She was in him over the years. More meant to see this trap, know that importantly, he shared her motives. there was no choice if she was to save There was little point in them the Hope, and to torture herself with leaving the trap as they could not by the full knowledge of the event as she doing that prevent what she wanted to sacrificed herself. And it would all do from being done. The corporation be pointless because Hope would then only had Hope's mind, and that in a destroy the corporation as she would medium where he could adequately have done. She may as well stay out defend himself. They didn't have his of it if one of them was to be body and so couldn't torture him. The sacrificed anyway. only influence they had was coercion. Dor cursed all sentiment, and They could hold Hope's mind from her, activated the unit. and from his body, and attempt to use She found it strange as she that either to influence her, or to observed the tiger she manifested entice her into the same trap. herself as being read, byte by byte, Dor had inherited fifteen into the small restrictive space. It percent of the corporation, and the was like diving into a mirror. In control of that share was to pass to other circumstances she would've her upon reaching her majority. She delighted in the purely intellectual had opted for her Change before that observation of her capacity outside

THE MENTOR 72 page 30 the trap diminishing as her capacity dived into the water, and disappeared inside it increased. The part of her from the network as he did so. The in the trap detected nothing. It water grew misty and evaporated. The wouldn't have processing capability Hope was gone. How did he do it that until the transfer was complete. way? His body, forty thousand She was rewarded by detecting a kilometres away on Earth, would be ghost of Ramez, the killer whale, receiving him now. Perhaps she would manifest in the network just as the see him in a week or so. Perhaps part of her which remained there before then she would find him minding became too small to maintain somebody else's business in some other processing power. Her last thought network. was that the whale became very busy. RETURN*, {------} The Hope was free, but his actions Dor rushed over familiar terrain mystified her. to her Access hardware and then did The process took microseconds. her own vanishing act for an audience With the transfer virtually of one. She began by biting her own complete Dor prepared to explore the tail, and then swallowed her whole bounds of her new environment. She body, like the worm Ouroboros, until wasn't allowed the opportunity. she disappeared with a puff from the With no cessation in the network and... transfer of information, and hence no ... opened her eyes. opportunity for the counter to click Dor shook her head. Even in over, she found herself being enemy territory she regretted leaving transmitted back into the network - a Access. She stretched luxuriously and tiger with its claws dug into the tail yawned. Her nipples were hard and of a killer whale. A block of strange sensitive. She wished she had a joint information was replacing her in the and time to enjoy it. She laughed as trap. she remembered the directories. Immediately her capacity in the Head high, still stalking and network became large enough she watchful, Dor abandoned the registered surprise, delight, and maintenance room and headed for her amusement. truck. It was time to leave before *Laughter* the family could react. *Query* the enemy software sent. The busker was still present, *Noisy* and he was still singing. But it was *Yes* a new song. Dor observed the flow as the remainder of a string of telephone Fly little bird fly directories replaced her in the trap. Fly high as the sky For we will always love you Hope had been quick enough to initiate the caper, and more The man sang, and he winked at her as importantly had thought of it at a she approached. It was so time when she was too busy pitying her unforgivably sweet that Dor almost situation. gagged. This time she had to fight Escape. very hard not to kill. The only thing A lesson. that saved the man was the presence of *When I get out of here I'm two coins in his hat. going to laugh until I'm sick* Her claws were fully extended as *I told you I was the best, she dropped a third coin and stalked mother* on by. *Get out of here* If he said anything more she Dor observed as the whale swam would rip his throat out. away to a maser communications link. Hope was showing off now, and water Finis appeared in front of him. The whale

THE MENTOR 72 page 31

THE YANKEE PRIVATEER #12

by Buck Coulson

Browsing through my pulp back the land cheaply, and sell it collection today, I happened to look again once the dam is repaired. A at the magazine that portrays the couple of people who have discovered quintessential American hero, and the plot have already been murdered. decided it would be useful for a The story really does involve column. The original title of the financial transactions and sources of magazine was THE WIZARD, but the only information, in between shootings and copy I have is #6, by which time the the usual superhero impediments, title had been changed to CASH GORMAN, though Gorman isn't a brawler, and with "The Wizard" as a subtitle. prefers to use his brains. Along the Thomas Jefferson Gorman, nicknamed way, he manages to buy up part of the "Cash", is neither a muscular super- land at a suitable discount, which scientist nor a shadowy figure dealing will probably turn him a profit, once out justice with .45's. His wizardry he's broken up the scheme and put the is financial, which puts him at the mayor and his crooked police chief in peak of American desires; not everyone jail. It's a perfect example of the here wants to be president, but nearly American Way, and I'm surprised that everyone wants to be rich. the magazine lasted only a few issues Gorman has only one assistant, after the one I have. (I obtained in keeping with his ideals; assistants mine, and a few other oddball pulps, have to be paid. Jimmy Ranger is a from Dean Grennell, shortly after he former college football player who is moved from Wisconsin to California.) both an accountant and an engineer, an The two short stories in the issue expert driver and the supplier of were also about financial whatever muscle the story requires. skullduggery. The author of the stories is "Phil. R. I wonder if Street & Smith ever Sheridan"; he might be a descendant of sold rights for a Japanese reprint? Civil War general Philip Sheridan, but One of the most interesting I suspect a pseudonym. things about the pulps, at least for The story I have concerns the someone with an interest in history, mayor of a California town who is were the ads. Street & Smith mags, rigging a swindle on a dam that's being adequately financed, had fewer supposed to turn the surrounding ads than most, but a Clayton magazine valley into prime agricultural land titled FIVE NOVELS MONTHLY had more through irrigation. The mayor has than the usual assortment, though it acquired most of the land before the did keep them out of the story area dam was announced, and sold it and into several pages of straight afterwards at a whopping profit. advertising in the front and back of Next, he arranged with the contractor the issue. My copy of this mag is the to incorporate a weak point in the May 1930 issue. The mag is heavy with dam, so that it will fail at that spot ads for correspondence schools and job and start a panic. He can then buy offers; this was the Depression, when

THE MENTOR 72 page 32 people were desperate for ways of Juanita says she got Listerine poured making money. over her head when she was young. I The inside front cover is didn't; my parents were sceptics. devoted to an opening for agents to There's a house ad for ASTOUNDING sell a "New Million Dollar Can Opening STORIES, featuring a Murrey Leinster Machine", which is based on the same story. Harley-Davidson shows a principle as most of today's can handsome young motorcycle rider in a openers, with a sharp roller that suit, tie, and cap; not quite the clamps to the can and cuts the lid out image Harley has these days. "How To in a neat circle. The old-style Obtain A Better Looking Nose". From openers of the time were composed of a the drawing, you put this rig over knife-blade and a means of leverage, your head and it squeezes your nose and left a ragged edge on both can and into the shape you want. No thanks... lid. Most of the people who used them "Buchstein's Fibre Limb is soothing to cut their fingers sooner or later; I your stump"; aimed at crippled WWI certainly did. In the ad pages, vets and perhaps at railway traffic Educator Press is looking for salesmen inspectors. Parisian Products Co. for their pictures "direct from offers a perfume that's almost Paris". (It was a simpler age; even guaranteed to attract men - well, that Parisian pictures then couldn't equal sort of ad hasn't changed much, though today's PLAYBOY.) The Process Corp. now it's usually in a slicker wants salesmen for their lines of magazine. The National Poultry greeting cards, stationery, and Institute offers "Big Money In "Pictorolls", whatever those might be. Poultry"; in 1930 there wasn't big There's an ad for International money in anything, but at least you'd Correspondence Schools; well, I once have something to eat. took an electrical engineering course Then there were muscle builders, from them and promptly got a job as a a gadget to recharge used batteries draftsman, so their courses did work, (in 1930; right), "How To Secure A if you stuck to it. Lewis Training Government Position" (the gravy train Institute will train men to manage there was already in operation), "Free hotels, restaurants, etc. The First To Men Past 40" was a booklet Hawaiian Conservatory of Music, Inc. explaining gland disorders (three (located in New York), will teach you guesses as to which glands the men by mail how to play the Hawaiian were most interested in), "Pants guitar. Be the life of the party; Matched To Any Suit", full-page ads maybe you can marry money. "Learn for Old Gold and Lucky Strike Electricity" in the Coyne Electrical cigarettes, and at least 3 ads for School. Standard Business Training ways to kick the tobacco habit, and Inst. head their ad, "Be A Railway save money. Major emphasis was on Traffic Inspector" - now we're getting making or saving money; becoming into the glamorous occupations. You attractive to the opposite sex came in could also learn to be detective, a poor second. It gives an idea of repair radios, or be a door-to-door what the Great Depression was like; salesman for a shirt manufacturer. we've had "recessions" since then, but The North American Accident none that were so clearly reflected in Insurance Co. offers a $10,000 our advertising; sex has been in first accident insurance policy for $10 per place ever since then. year. A Listerine ad promises to get rid of dandruff; just pour the stuff -c- over your head. It also claims to kill typhoid germs; the government put - Buck Coulson a stop to that claim some years later.

THE MENTOR 72 page 33 P.T.B.

by Jim Verran

A friend once asked, 'Where did seldom room to fully explain the you learn all those technical things technologies behind the successful that you mention in your stories?' resolution of the character's Until then I'd never given it problems. What should the author do, much thought, most of the ideas came invent new technologies that from reading technical and scientific accomplish the same end as those with articles, and that old mainstay of the which the reader is familiar, or SF writer, imagination. But the resort to jargon borrowed from other question was worthy of an honest writers? This trend to borrow has answer, so in a rare moment of become accepted in popular blood and guts inspired candour I coined the phrase: fantasy. Pseudo Technological Bull... If Pseudo Science is used, it Anyone who loves Nuts and Bolts must at least ring true: the writer science fiction has encountered must get the science right. Although P.T.B., in fact it is difficult to suspension of disbelief is a powerful avoid. P.T.B. has been an factor in fiction writing, patch ups indispensable tool of the writer's seldom work. The characters must use trade since SF was invented. After devices that are part of the scenario, all, where would Captain Kirk be and not just dropped in to cover a without his Warp Drives, Transporter poorly planned development in the Beams, Phasers and Dilithium Crystals? story line. Such plugging of holes Futuristic fiction, set in the may be likened to creative lying: it distant and highly improbable future, may provide an immediate solution, but is sprinkled with such terms as: as events unfold, more lies are needed Hyperspace, Stargate, Parallel to reinforce the first lapse. Universe, Time Warp, Alternate Credibility may wane when a Reality, and the like. Writers of fantastically compact weapon with a speculative fiction have invented seemingly endless power source, wreaks imaginative variations of current devastation for several encounters, terminology, to shoehorn hard science only to be foiled by some bozo with an into their work. equally remarkable, personal force As writers and readers become shield. more familiar with Black holes, Event Hard core P.T.B. provides the Horizons, and the Space-time means by which futuristic characters Continuum, the fictional hardware to will conquer their universe. It allows exploit these phenomena prompted the instantaneous travel and invention of appropriate names. communications over cosmic distances, The worlds of Science Fantasy discourse with alien life forms, and and Fiction have arrived at a point colonisation of this or any other where they warrant their own lexicon. galaxy that man fancies. Which raises an important question: Mankind of the future will "Is there copyright on the terminology Terra-form planets while conquering generated by the P.T.B. published in belligerents, usually from more books and magazines today?" advanced civilisations. All the Many writers have used while, arrogantly applying the same terminology not of their own practices that are destroying our invention, in stories where Space Warps precious planet, and with the same and Force Fields are employed, and Asimov's motives: profit and self Three Laws of Robotics are religiously gratification. adhered to, in fact the latter is now With unlimited hard core P.T.B., part of SF lore. a futuristic hero, or more frequently The practising SF writer is these days, heroine, may encounter a faced with a dilemma, particularly situation like this:- when writing short stories. There is

THE MENTOR 72 page 34 Some Droids have Warped in is the Shared World, or Universe through Hyperspace and locked a genre. Any writer knows that it is Tractor Beam onto her/his Dilithium easier to see problems in another's powered Astro Clipper. So s\he grabs work, this is one reason why writers' a Blaster and Beams aboard their workshops and reading groups are Battle Cruiser while the Shields are popular. Shared theme anthologies down, to neutralise the Infinite might best be looked upon as Improbability Drive, before they can commercial workshopping, a way to make the return Jump. relieve some of the creative burden, The above example is certain to while providing stimulation through cause an editor to regurgitate his cut interaction with other writers. Of lunch, and must surely be plagiarism course, the writers must be of the most foul kind, but Hollywood compatible, and agree upon a theme once raised it to an art form. with commercial potential. Although a Soft core P.T.B. on the other big name writer will help the sales, hand, is less disruptive to the prima donnas need to be eliminated digestive process, and may take this before the project is commenced. form:- Reading and discussing stories When the AI circuits went down, or ideas within a common interest Roland knew that he was in trouble. group, is a sure-fire way to generate Traces of the outer atmosphere had P.T.B. and test its true potential. already heated the thermal shielding There is no point in using P.T.B., if as he cranked up the old, light at the end of the story, the operated back-up. A real antique, gas writer/inventor is the only person who cooled laser shunts, and no vocal knows what the strange words meant. input: he'd need to brush us his Therefore, unless the Pseudo keyboard skills pretty damn quickly. Technology is in common literary use, Not a radical departure from and/or in the public domain, the current technology, and a little more writer will have to satisfactorily down to earth (pun intended), but identify its function to the reader. enough P.T.B. to qualify as science For the benefit of starving SF fiction. writers, confined to cold, leaking The trick is for the writer to garrets (or tin sheds), using P.T.B. seem to know what he is writing about, requires observance of the following:- while at the same time hinting at Be original, be concise, but technological developments that may above all, when using recognisable conceivably evolve from those already technology, get it right. known to the reader. An increasingly popular solution - c - to the multiplicity of terminologies THE END

THE MENTOR 72 page 35 Lucy and the Lightning

by Blair Hunt

The big old tree at the bottom However I can see no alternative but of the garden was a blackened smoking to call in medical experts to assist stump. The Lightning had blown its us with this crisis.' leaves and branches all over the yard. As he resumed his seat the group Seven year old Lucy sat in the remained silent. A murmur of sound midst of the wreckage. She was drifted into the hall. Faint at laughing and pointing towards the sky. first, it grew steadily in volume. 'Are you hurt? Can you stand? In the darkened school yard the Oh thank God you're all right.' children had formed a circle. Two 'Zring!' said Lucy. hundred small voices chanted. Two 'What was that Darling? How hundred small faces turned to watch don't be silly. Mummy's trying to the spinning silver Disc that slowly find out if you've been hurt.' descended, on a column of flickering 'Zring.' light. 'Oh God.' It came to rest in the centre of 'Zring?' the circle. A section of its gleaming hull swung out and a ramp slid to the * * * * * ground. A tall figure emerged. He 'She's been like this for days, smiled down at the child standing at Doctor. She seems as bright as ever the foot of the ramp, her hand raised but she doesn't speak, just makes that in welcome. awful noise.' 'Greeting, Lucy. You rang?' Lucy sat beside her Mother and did as she had been asked. She - C - watched the little moving light in the - END - Doctor's hand and listened to his voice. 'You are feeling tired, very tired. Your eye lids are heavy, very heavy... Speak to me Lucy.' 'Zring.'

* * * * *

She could sense that her Teacher was upset. It wasn't just that her hands were shaking. It was the way she shouted into the phone; 'Come and take Lucy home. She's got the entire school at it now.' The sound of two hundred young voices, raised in harmony, floated through the window. 'Zring.'

* * * * *

An emergency meeting of Parents and Teachers was in progress at the School. 'As Headmaster, the last thing I want is bad publicity for the School.

THE MENTOR 72 page 36

Missed it, by '- - - - ' Much

by Alan Stewart

After days of silent flight, radio pulse began the unfurling of metal flower known as Viking. Slowed into orbit, camera tests, antenna swivel, around planet between moons. Fourth of July, is go, is P.R., is planned in seventy-six. Nature or Murphy or something whips up a storm, red dusts valley to delay. Later Viking keeps its date with destiny, somewhat tarnished for politico-historical purists. But wonderfully out of this world gibber plain scenes, and we wonder, what's just out of view?

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THE MENTOR 72 page 37 Mirrors and Slivers

by Grai Hughes

The Starspikes were so tall as their outer surfaces, yet from here, to cause one to imagine that, from on the edge of the deserted metropolis orbit, they must appear as a beard of where we Grounders live, they seem so icicles depending like an old man's alien, so unfamiliar. I'm not really goatee from the round face of the suited to my employ as a window Earth. But, of course, they are not washer; I think too much about so tall. Still, the mirrored, three- falling. That doesn't scare me, sided spikes ascend so high that, on though. I see the gulls and pigeons clear days ball lightning gathers still defying gravity wheel in the around their tips, curious sparkling strange high places between entities that discharge to earth in a Starspikes, they traverse the empty violet flash that runs the length of geometries so easily, I sometimes the spike. And when the big storms imagine that I would too. that scour the surface of the Earth Up there the air hums, the noise rush over, the tips of the spikes of traffic below is little more than score iridescent streaks in the soft background static, and when the wind underbelly of the cloud. On these that precedes a storm rolls in, its stormy days the mirrored sides of the currents pull at you and you feel the spikes boil with the reflected Starspike sway. swirling darkness. When lightning I stare at myself in those strikes amongst the forest of spikes enormous lying mirrors, and watch my its momentary illumination is re- self's image blur with soapy water reflected and multiplied so that hours when I sponge, and materialize so later, in the stillness after the clearly when I squeegee. passing of the storm before the aurora At certain conjunctions of space tempestuous envelopes the evening with and light I glimpse my tertiary, its spectral shimmerings, the quaternary and higher orders of selves lightning can still be seen, dancing transformed and reflected back so that amongst the spikes. occasionally I wonder if in fact that Rigelspike is launching today. distant person deep within the glass It is more than the lightning of is not some other yellow coveralled storms past, still trapped with-in and capped window washer who merely that gold-tinted sliver, that today delights in mimicry of me. draws our eyes toward it. No, it is not the prospect of The mirrors of this city, (for falling to the ground, that toy it is now merely that; there is no landscape, that scares me, but falling longer any escape velocity to defy the into myself in that infinite space... Earth's thickening gravity) seemingly that fear grips me and sends my ascend further into the sky with each imagination reeling so that I must passing week. Of course, this too is stare and stare into myself, into an illusion. Maybe it is only our own glimpses of these deeper selves, to increasing burden that makes the ride out that vertiginous fear. spikes seem, on a calm autumn day like Up there clouds drift by so today, so much more towering. close I could easily be seduced by Though fractured on the surfaces their materiality to step out, but of the Starspike, each reflecting back only into the glass. I prefer not to the sky coloured by its own tint wear a harness when I'm out in the creating a jagged and multiple cradle, though Silverman, my horizon, the blue space and cloud Supervisor, insists I must, guild mottle reduced and captured there is rules and insurance clauses, nor am I ordered too. supposed to work alone but Silverman It's curious, each workday I has, in his twenty years of cleaning ascend those structures and descend and re-mirroring the spikes, developed

THE MENTOR 72 page 38 an assortment of voyueristic liaisons But today no doubt many of them which he relishes in describing to me. are reflecting. The Pinnacle of So, as soon as he has seen me buckled Rigelspike has commanded an attempt to into my harness and left for such a launch. The last such attempt perverse meeting, I unbuckle and hang occurred seventeen years ago, when I precariously over the cradle rail, was three. My family deserted the laughing and crying out in sheer Proximaspike and became Grounders only defiance. Such are the petty that morning. To my three year old amusements we perform to assert our eyes it was a beautiful thing to see; freedom. that sliver reflecting the yellow dawn On chill mornings I often drive lift itself up above the other spikes the cradle directly where the sun so that it blazed in the sun, and then blazes in the glass, and revel there explode in a downpour of golden in ecstatic luminance, suspended in my daggers. Of course, gravity has grown harness. Such enlightenment, when I so much heavier since then. blink open my watering eyes and So we Grounders in our bright- glimpse my reflected self within that coloured coveralls and caps watch from blazing orb, Icarus triumphant in the edge of the deserted metropolis, helioplatry, is beyond understanding. and a young family, deserting Once, while driving the cradle Rigelspike, their meagre possessions horizontally across a spike for just packed in an electric car, crosses the such an exultant self-apotheosis the cement field towards us. Through the sun exploded out wards and a chair black and yellow striped checkpoint fell in a rain of glittering shards. without looking back. A man quickly followed and I noticed They arrive in our small his smile. The hole left in that celebration. infinity was a jagged edged blackness. 'Hi. I'm Daniel Windows,' I On certain shrouded days, when say. 'Welcome back to Earth.' my primary reflection is little more 'Why are you crying Daniel than a ghost, I can see the adumbrate Windows?' their child asks me. figures behind the glass. So empty, 'These mirrors are a curious-sad the orderly toings and froings of wounding of time and space. For these shades, trapped by mirrors and everything in the world that is screens and glass in the line of sight beautifull and futile, and everything hierarchy that makes a spike a in the world that is tragic and functional organism, broken only when purposeful. For these mirrors, they notice me noticing them and they aspiring to the night. Don't you see, pull faces and perform curious my eyes are laughing also.' motionings to see how well I see them. And we watch Rigelspike rise Of course, I act oblivious to their into the blue. And there is as much gestures and they find themselves, laughter, as tears in their eyes, but observed only by their hierarchical only wonder in the eyes of their superior, acting the fool. These are child. the only times, it seems, they pause, as I, to reflect. END

THE MENTOR 72 page 39

NED BROOKS, 713 Paul Street, Newport News, VA than usual since so much of the issue was either fiction or people 23605 USA. commenting on previous fiction and I'm What is the purpose of the sheet still staying away from such material, of flimsy over the Contents page in TM I'm afraid. 70? [Your letter was first in TM 70 because it (When I had the cover printed I forgot to just missed the previous issue - the same thing ask for 110 gsm paper and they used 80 gsm, When I nearly happened this time also. - Ron] saw the show-through I put the 50 gsm paper there Interesting cover, very nicely so you couldn't see the print through the cover. - printed and executed. At first I Ron) I wouldn't touch the squabble thought it was another alien landscape between Anderson and Coulson over the scene but upon closer inspection I manner of destruction of the library realized that what it is is a at Alexandria with a ten-meter pole... depiction of a very slow and very Your two pages titled THE HUMBLE inexplicable migration by a race of DUPLICATOR are puzzling, to say the rocklike aliens who rest periodically least - are you trying to be funny, or before starting on their mysterious what? You don't give a brand name of way again. Very evocative and I'm this device, but it is certainly far sure there's a story to go with it more complex and sophisticated a that might someday appear in a future duplicator than I ever saw a fan use issue of TM. at home. Chalker's fancy 4-color I knew we were contemporaries Gestetner rig that he bought after he but I either didn't know or had got rich may be something like this. forgotten that you pre-date me as a It seems to be more like an ABDick fan by a year and a half. I don't with the single drum though. I never know about you but I don't feel like an used anything fancier than a Gestetner old phart yet. 320, and that is really just a manual A couple of things intrigued me with a motor to turn the crank. And about your early fannish ruminations. at that doesn't work as well as the The first was just how much the cost even simpler RexRotary M4. I have of things has changed since those gotten lazy lately and do even halcyon days of First Contact, of apazines at the local copy shop - course, and the second was all that partly excused by the fact that I information you were able to provide can't get good Rex ink any more and about what happened at those early the desire to do solid blacks that cons a quarter of a century ago. I would only back a mess in the mimeo. can list the first three cons I was Enjoyed the account of the 1970 ever at because they were the 1966-67- bus trip in TM 69 - as you say, not 68 worldcons and I suppose if I looked likely anyone could do that again any long enough I could find the programme time soon! (26.5.91) books for them and tell you who made the introductions or whether the program ran on time. And after those MIKE GLICKSOHN, 506 Windmere Ave, Toronto, first three I'd not be certain I could Canada M65 3L6, set down a list of what other cons I Many thanks for TM 70 (and for was at. (At least for a period of pandering to my rapacious ego by several years: eventually I started a putting my loc first in R&R: I'll put list of cons as I attended them and a good word in for you with the have pretty complete information on at Fanzine Police and with my awesome least the names of those cons for the influence I expect the first of last seventeen or so years.) I'm left several consecutive Hugos for you is to deduce that either (a) you have a assured... Where do you find all phenomenal memory, (b) you kept an these fruitcakes in the letter column amazingly detailed diary of convention anyway?) This loc will be shorter attendance, or (c) you can fake it as well as anyone I've ever read!

THE MENTOR 72 page 40 (The answer is simple - I've kept the Con I have to believe Glen Chapman booklets and Progress Reports for all the Cons I've is wrong about his story of the fight attended. Also I could have (but didn't) gone at the cricket match. I know through the fanzines of the day, which also had con Australians are famed as heavy beer reports. With most of the early cons I can still drinkers but I seriously doubt someone remember some events at them - and I did also take could drink over seventy cans of beer Super 8 movies of some of them. - Ron. Your first con interaction was in five hours and still be conscious. also slightly classier than mine. I I can pack away a fair amount of drink drove my motorbike to Cleveland, myself but that would be completely pitched a tent in a park ten miles beyond me. Thirty cans, sure. Maybe outside of town, drove to the hotel even forty. (Then pass out, wake up and ended up sleeping the first night and feel shitty for two days so what's on the floor behind a bench on the the point?) But I won't believe 70 + mezzanine floor. (And at the end of until I've watched it happen. June I'll drive down to Cincinnati At Ditto 3 last fall the Gestetner with a friend and probably spend the rep demonstrated their top of the line night sleeping on the floor of the continuous-stencil-roll mimeo (at consuite because the hotel is all something like $8,000) and It booked up. Plus ca change, eh?) Certainly Was A Wonderful Thing. I Steve Sneyd's locs often give me enjoyed your tongue-in-cheek the impression that if I only had presentation of the Humble Duplicator someone to translate them into English and will think of it when eventually I for me I'd be really impressed by the dust off the old 466 in the basement seeds of wit and erudition he sows and crank out (literally) another through them. Sadly no-one has yet fanzine. Real Soon Now, you betcha! published a Sneyd-English/English- Phew, for a minute I thought the Sneyd dictionary so more often than only book I was going to have read in not I'm left scratching my head and your several pages of reviews was an wondering what he was trying to tell almost quarter century old Philip Dick us. paperback but Butler snuck in right at the end to give me a second title and Interesting juxtaposition of the raise me all the way to almost ten Ortlieb and Tansey locs to demonstrate percent of the books listed. How in the massive misunderstanding re the Ditmars that are apparently rife in Oz hell do you find time to read that fandom. My empathic reaction is to much and still publish such large side with Ortlieb and that's frequent issues? (I bet Sue does all considerably reinforced when Tansey the laundry and the bathtub creates a vast credibility abyss with scrubbing!) (4.6.91) his ravings about an SF/fannish (I travel 160 km each day to Sydney to work and back. In the morning I snooze and in the "mafia". (The Tansey's of the world evening I read. I also read at morning and will never realize that they musn't afternoon tea at work. - Ron.) make this sort of knowledge commonplace by expounding on it in fanzines. The Men With Big Sticks PAMELA BOAL, 4 Westfield Way, Charlton Heights, will no doubt have paid the late David Wantage, Oxon OX12 7EW, UK. Tansey a visit long before you get Congratulations to Mark McLeod this letter and Our Secret will be for his cover painting on THE MENTOR safe for another generation.) 70 and to yourself for its When Peter Sellers made small reproduction. I thought at first it black and white comedies for Ealing was a photograph and wondered where on Studios I think he did have comic earth it could be or how could such genius. But too much of the last part perspective be achieved if it had been of his career was wasted on utter a table top mock-up with pebbles. rubbish so that he rarely achieved Just about the most convincing that potential once he became a imaginary landscape painting I have "star". The last thing I ever saw of ever seen. his was that awful Fu Manchu parody: To me one of the greatest what a tragic end to a career that pleasures of Fandom is in its could have been so much greater. international contacts. The Having read the Tansey letter I opportunity through fanzines for was ready to nominate him as "Nutter armchair travel, discovering how fans of the Month" but Peter Booth must in other countries enjoy their fandoms also be given serious consideration. and how the genre of SF is developing Booth has passion and enthusiasm and a professionally in different parts of fiery iconoclasm which are all to the the world. Your editorial and good but until they're tempered with a RUMINATIONS really fitted the bill for better understanding of fandom and me. tolerance for other people doing That is not a humble duplicator, things their own way he tends to come it's positively up market. A humble off more as a raver than a young turk. one is my Gestetner, no buttons or Still, any healthy fandom needs a controls at all, just ink the screen, thorn in its side and I sense Booth lay the stencil on the drum, load up will enjoy filling that role. the copy paper and crank the handle.

THE MENTOR 72 page 41 True mine does have such refinements face to face for the first time we as a copy counter which doesn't always talked of cabbages and kings and many click over with each turn of the other things. During one of our handle, and some coarse adjustments conversations in the wee hours Burt can be made via lever and ratchet asked, "Would you like me to make you arrangements. Treated with TLC it a Doctor of Divinity, a Minister or a still produces cleaner copy than some Bishop, in fact you could be the Arch early photocopiers. Bishop of Great Britain." (I came across the material on that Somewhat mystified and obviously "duplicator" and thought I would share it with not taking him seriously my unwitty other fans. The duplicator I still have is a reply was, "Oh wait until I'm dead manual Roneo 250, which is still working, sort of. Burt, then you can make me a Saint." - Ron) Well, it was the wee small hours! The story line of HUMAN ERROR is As it happens Burt has made it not particularly original but David to the Pearly Gates before me. No Tansey handled what I call the still doubt the heavenly host can recognise frame format very well. Yet another a good person when they see one but writer you have featured that I hope saints are nominated on earth and as to read again. The same with Margaret Burt was a non religious of Jewish Pearce. I found her scene setting parentage I guess neither of us will economical and effective and loved the get to be Saints. Had he lived two tongue in cheek title, BOIL THE WATER. thousand years ago... but that's Anne Stewart's poetry is rather down another story. beat for my tastes but effective Burt was a lawyer who lived in enough. I can do without rhyme but Tucson Arizona. His story was that it would prefer more rhythm, when poetry seldom rained in Tucson but when it is written to be read with normal did anyone with a modicum of inflection the rhythm emphasises the intelligence stayed where they were chosen words and enhances the mood of until the deluge was over. One such the piece. Then again poetry is so downpour trapped him in his office and personal and the unused rhythmic as his work was up to date he decided emphasis I perceive may well be in the to embark on an exercise of setting up way I read it. a tax free organisation. At that time Thank you for the reviews. a religious body was the most Thank you Peter Brodie, Forbidden Planet advantageous, especially if it had may be an oldie but I've always charitable and educational aims and thought of it as a goldie, now I know overseas ministries. As long as all why. the educational niceties were properly At any time or place in fandom and legally laid down the actual one can find an individual making a beliefs of the "Church" need only be bid to be the latest enfant terrible. stated in the vaguest of terms. A This adolescent state of mind bears no friend trapped by the same storm relationship to the individual's indulged his hobby of calligraphy and physical age. The adolescent feels design and created all the simultaneously repressed and ignored certificates for those who would be by the adult world, so, makes a bid to ordained by the founders of the be recognised by attempting to shock "Church". by making ill mannered aggressive Betime the weather abated and statements. These adolescents either the "Founders" were able to return to grow up and become interesting people their respective homes all the needful to know or they leave fandom because documents had been created and the people who affirm they can take it as exercise completed. A few days later well as dish it out seldom can. Let Burt being something of a completest up hope Peter Booth follows the former and wishing to verify the accuracy of course. I suspect he does have his work sent the documents off to be something to offer fandom when he registered. Burt's work was accurate attains his majority. (5.6.91) and his "Church" became legally THE MENTOR 71 had just arrived, registered without question. with yet another stunning cover. How I believe Burt only actually sad that this will be the last of Mark used his "Church" on one occasion to McLeod's work we will see in colour. gain tax advantages for a young man As I mentioned before his work loses who's studies Burt considered to be so much in the translation to black worthy and humanitarian. To think and white. though, had I been less flippant, I Some British fans may have could have been the Arch Bishop of difficulty in believing that Buck Great Britain. Coulson can perform legal marriage I do indeed sympathise with Joy ceremonies on the strength of an Buchanan's daughter. I have a mild ordination certificate obtained by a degree of left right confusion which friend as a joke. I do not doubt his is compounded by the fact that I veracity one bit. taught myself to read and write. Some years ago, Burt, a friend Despite those handicaps I was able to from America was visiting with us and escape into the written world as a as the wont of correspondents meeting

THE MENTOR 72 page 42 child but to this day I have problems. With the color covers and overseas I can, for instance, read policeman distribution, it must be running you a where in fact the word is politician small fortune. and it may be several paragraphs What it calls to mind is the beyond the word before I realise that "Amazing Stories syndrome". The the context doesn't make sense and prozine, AMAZING STORIES, has a new have to back-track to find where I editor, and is being published in the went wrong. Now that my eyesight is large, "bedsheet" format, the same so poor the need to reread becomes an size it appeared during the 1920's and exhausting chore. As for my spelling, 1930's. The first two issues have the spell checker on this computer slick paper, full color cover and programme is a big help but I can interior illustrations, and a very select the wrong word from the list of limited distribution, at least partly alternatives supplied for the queries due to the ungainly size, which makes word. Having taught myself to look up newsstand display impossible. I've f and ph, c, s, sh, ch, followed by received three please for subscription ee, ea, ie, and any other likely or funds to help keep the magazine going. unlikely combination I have better I am reluctant to do so, only because luck with finding things in the AMAZING is too good. I can't imagine dictionary but it takes a magnifying that my subscription, or even a glass and a very strong desire to thousand more, will be sufficient to know. support this venture. Had the However, today a child with such magazine begun in a more modest problems is less likely to be regarded format, then I could well believe that as stupid or lazy. Understanding, let it would have a greater chance for alone help, is still in short supply survival. but a determined parent can track down Thus, I look at THE MENTOR, and relevant organisations. In America imagine the tremendous overhead there is the Institute for Special associated with publishing it, and Children (which caters for gifted wonder how long it can keep going. children as well as dyslexics and (Yes, I saw several copies of AMAZING on children with learning difficulties) the counter at the newsagents at Wynyard Station in Britain there is an Association for (one of the main commuter stations in Sydney) and Dyslexics, and I feel sure there will wondered why they didn't have it in the stands be some such helpful organisation in amongst the computer magazines or in with the UK sf Australia. prozines. Please don't despair, Joy. Many TM doesn't cost all that much. I own the offset press I am using and don't pay Sales Tax on studies of brain damaged people show the consumables. I would say an ordinary issue that while a dead brain cell does not costs me about $80 to print and an additional $180 regenerate, with suitable training, to post. In the last three issues, the full colour other brain cells will take over the covers cost $1.65 each. When I was offered the function of those dead cells. opportunity to have the paintings as covers I had Development of our understanding of to have them done in colour to show TMs readers in the human brain seems to have lagged Australia there are good sf artists here. - Ron. behind other medical advances, though The fiction all seemed weak and it seems to be generally agreed that unremarkable. I don't believe in we all have parts of the brain that providing forums for unsaleable are unused, cells sitting there almost fiction, as all of this was. Of far like spare batteries. I am at the greater interest were your RUMINATIONS moment teaching a woman to play chess. on early Assie fandom. This pretty Hardly a startling fact until one much parallelled my era of activity knows that less than a year ago she and thus I could better relate to the was shot in the head and discharged events depicted. from the hospital into her mother's I can well recall the care as a virtual cabbage. She is now consternation among both the fans and living independently having recovered non-fans when 2001 was first released. her speech, balance, full use of one Contrary to what some may feel, 2001 arm, some use of the other and some was not universally accepted by the sf use of her legs. She is confident world. In fact, 2 of the 3 leading that one day she will walk again. prozines (ANALOG and GALAXY) had Before the incident it never occurred strong denunciations of the film and to her that she had the capacity or its "message". ANALOG, offered by far desire to follow more intellectual what turned out to be the dumbest review pursuits. Now she has discovered an of 2001. G. Harry Stine ranted for appetite for reading and hobbies that two pages, finally closing by calling stretch her mind, such as chess. the film "an insane LSD hippie-trip". (20.8.91) I was pleased to see the anti- Scientology statements, particularly MIKE DECKINGER, 649 16th Ave, San Francisco, CA Brian Earl Brown's comment that: "WOTF exists to legitimatize L. Ron Hubbard 94118, USA. and through him, Scientology..." Of I continue to be ultra-impressed course it does. Who else is paying to by the time, effort, and money that publish Hubbard's 10 volume posthumous you are putting into the magazine.

THE MENTOR 72 page 43 abomination? I'm amazed that a number good typer, and her 9 pages were a joy of reputable authors have lent their to read. Now I could have re-typed good names to Bridge Publications. all that onto ditto master to be run How many more cultists have they off. But here in Norman, there is a managed to lure into Scientology print shop that does photocopy at 3c a ranks, I wonder. page. And no extra charge for 2-sided Of course, I'm also pleased to work. So I had 100 copies of the 9 see a reissue of FEAR, which I feel is pages printed up while I waited. I Hubbard's crowning work, and is still must concede a certain superiority of capable of evoking chills today. tim e and convenience to photocopy, (9.6.91) especially at 3c a page. I figure my ditto is about 1c a page, but includes R. MILEVA, 51A, Bigla Street, Sofia 1126, Bulgaria. a substantial investment of time. Hello, dear Fan, Greetings from Anyway, to save Betty the Bulgaria. horrors of my re-typing on ditto Although you probably never masters, I did run off her 9 pages on suspected it, there are many ardent photo-copy. Just as my Chilean fans over here too. Their major Vacation report was run off on mimeo problem, though, is that for the last by Lee Gold. fifty years they haven't had the Next to admire in this zine are chance to read anything except the your Editorial and your fan history. books approved by the Party and its I'll have to send a letter to Leader. Would you believe that the Peregrine about that Chandler omnibus. Bulgarian translation of LORD OF THE I have always felt that A. Bertram RINGS was published in 1990? Thus, Chandler has been tremendously most Bulgarian fans know very little undervalued as an SF writer. And your about the English language SF of the fan history is most welcome for its last decades, though many of them insight into the early days of would be able to read, were they given Australian fandom. a book! I don't know what the situation And this brings us to the reason may be like in Australia, but here in for this letter. the USA we don't have the "Writers of We, the English-speaking and the Future" contests and publications! reading fans in Bulgaria, have What we do have is L. RON HUBBARD'S WOTF embarked on the ambitious project of contest and books. The name of building up a library of SF books and Hubbard is always as big or bigger movies, so that East may meet West at than the phrase WOTF. As far as I am last. concerned, this is an attempt to So, our appeal: send up books, rehabilitate the Hubbard name for the new or used, hardcover or paperback, gross scam of Scientology. Sorry, but then ask your friends to send us some a crook is a crook is a crook, and I more; send us video tapes, if possible have never bought a single book or (VHS only, please). pamphlet of HUBBARD'S WOTF and never You probably won't get a Good will. The swindler didn't get a penny Conduct badge for helping us, but you of my money when he was alive and will will have our gratitude and the not get a penny of it now that he is knowledge that you have helped spread dead. the light of SF in this part of the And no amount of cash spending world. (21.4.91) from front-organisations for Scientology, publishers or otherwise, will get an ounce of respect from me HARRY ANDRUSCHAK, PO Box 5309, Torrance, CA for the creep. Short snort... 90510-5309, USA. R Laurraine Tutihasi is quite THE MENTOR 70 is a most correct in saying that my con going impressive addition to your long experience is very limited. 1 or 2 a string of quality fanzines. I year, 3 at the most. However, I get chuckled a lot at the picture of your enough fanzines with con reports to duplicator on page 53. My ditto agree that there is a trend towards more machine is primitive compared to your no-smoking spaces at cons, as well as high-tech duplicator, and at least you less emphasis on alcohol, and heavy don't have to worry about print run drinking. limits. Nowadays 130 copies is In fact, last weekend I attended pushing it as far as readability goes, a small media-con held in Oklahoma City, which is why the worst 30 copies go thru about a half hour from Norman. APA-L and/or LASFAPA. Thundercon One was about 500-600 But you are right that attendees, but felt more like 200-300. traditional duplicating methods are on All function rooms were no-smoking, the way out. Here in the USA, more and that included the con suite. Said and more traditional fannish zines are con suite did serve beer, but strictly photocopied or offset. And I know one enforced ID control, and if somebody reason why. My next fanzine will have showed up drunk would refuse to serve. a 9 page Worldcon 1990 report by my Room parties were cautioned about the good friend Betty Knight. She is a laws of under-age drinking, and all in

THE MENTOR 72 page 44 all the con went quite smoothly. Media show any of my observations to be con or not, I had quite an enjoyable wrong I'll send in amendments, telling time, and would certainly be able to what and why, to Ron for publishing. attend a few more cons like that. Ah me, it's tough being right so (6.6.91) often. And for those of you who think I'm getting out of it cheaply I invite BRIAN EARL BROWN, 11675 Beaconsfield, Detroit, MI you to compare my exact wording in the list with Chapman's numbers. You'll 48224, USA. see what I mean. (17.6.91) THE MENTOR 70 was lovely with its Xerox cover, now sadly detached due to some rough handling on my part. JOHN TIPPER, PO Box 487, Strathfield, NSW 2135. Your reviews of recent Congrats on the look of ish 71. Australian sf publications was The new layout is just right and interesting, but I'm a little confused should - should - satisfy everyone. by your comment on p92, the last MM has come up with his best cover paragraph: "But for the fact the yet, although it may have been a several stories were set in the USA better idea to use it on a Summer the others had an Australian flavour". issue. The general effect upon This seems like two incomplete clauses looking at the cover at this time of and not a balanced sentence. But, are year was to break into fits of you saying that Australian written shivering...! stories set in the US are not "as Both CASSIOPEIA-B and A CHANGE good" as Australian written stories OF HEART were very depressing stories. set in Australia, or are you saying It was a good move inserting IS that Australian writers should only ANYBODY THERE? and ALDERSON IN THE write with Australian settings? DOCK between the two. And You're probably trying to say that DISCONNECTED was an amusing little 'tis a pleasure to read stories that insert. No doubt someone will write feel free to invoke a distinctly that "It's been done before", but Australian landscape, instead of aping hasn't just about every story been after generic US settings. reworked from something earlier? Can I'm glad to see that you're anyone tell me if there have been any continuing your fannish memoirs. original stories written lately? (No Peter Brodie offers quite a doubt I'll regret asking that parcel of reasons for regarding question...) FORBIDDEN PLANET as a monumental SF Of the two stories mentioned film innovator. Some (like #18: above, I thought A CHANGE... to be the "Entire story set in another solar better, as it had far more depth of system") seem minor or a duplicate of feeling. It would probably film another item (viz. #73 "Journey to really well, as an ep of THE TWILIGHT legitimate extra-solar destination ZONE, when this series is revived (Altair)"). But his list does point once again. out how different this movie was from THE CRYSTAL OUT OF SPACE was my what also was being made back then. own favourite story in this issue. Extremely well-written, entertaining FP feels like it was a part of the mainstream of SF whereas the others with a touch of macabre humour thrown were made Hollywood re-inventions. in for good measure, it also contains (10.6.91) a good measure of suspense. I'm sure everyone else will disagree with me on the following point. That is, very PETER BRODIE, 15/16 Waratah St,, Cronulla, NSW little fiction, SF or otherwise, 2230. contains this most important Julie Hawkins: it depends on how ingredient, these days. Nice artwork up him or her self each fan seems to from Steve Fox. be. Some fans are great, others are The QUIZ was so very, very close dorks. Just like real life. to the truth; it was the truth! Glen Chapman: The FORBIDDEN Lots of encouraging letters in PLANET list relates to SF movies, this issue. Glen's letter will nothing else, as others seem to encourage not a little feedback - from realise. I suggest you have your one character, at least. My long ago brain dry-cleaned. All your remark that spaceships are easier to observations are completely wrong due draw than dragons was, after all, just to you not reading exactly what I wrote, a personal view (as are everyone's paying much attention to what was remarks). As is my thought that Mike written and lack of real research and Glicksohn's sole talent is most understanding. I won't clarify all probably self-abuse! I've always the reasons you flunked as the only found it far easier to draw animals, reason I wanted the list published was etc., than machines, which generally to get any clunkers deleted by more require balanced designs and the knowledgeable fen. So far, the list is occasional straight line. Well, they still intact. I have done a great deal did back in the 40s and 50s, folks! of research on this list and movie, Gary - criticism of moi is believe me. If future investigations greatly appreciated. I wouldn't dream

THE MENTOR 72 page 45 of giving you a serve for your amusing one of the pleasures reserved for the observation. The only people I author. Name calling is also a lambast are those who direct curious phenomena. Take Peter Booth's undeserved criticism at other mistaken apprehension of last issue, contributors (undeserved, in my 'umble that my name is "Craig". I would opinion, naturally...). In fact, I'll remind Peter Booth that what an agree with you concerning your individual chooses as a name is solely observations on Hubbard. (20.6.91) the decision of that individual. By his name calling, however, he JULIE VAUX, c/- Wright College, Uni. New England, has hung himself by his own petard. Petard, a curious term itself, meaning, Armidale 2351. according to the unreliable MacQuarie I particularly liked the first Dictionary, "an engine of war or short story in TM 71, CASSIOPEIA B. explosive device formerly used to blow Excellent work! in a door or gate, form a breach in a Locs - Sigh, Peter's letter. Ol wall, etc.". An amusing etymological Mr Booth. The Tuareg kept Negro chain is derived: peter from the French slaves just as the urban Arabs did, but meaning to break wind, from pet, also, you may be interested to know... meaning fart, from the Latin , let's repeat your exact quote/error: petitum from pedere, break wind. Peter also "... the Turkish people, means "to diminish gradually and then linguistically, extend from Asia Minor disappear" while a black peter is "a to about Sinkiang anyway," [this is punishment cell devoid of light or true presently, but]... "and have done furniture" which, by coincidence, is since the days of Republican Rome..." rather like a booth. SIGH, SUCH APPALLING Thus, while I derive Grai Hughes IGNORANCE... Unfortunately for Booth from the following poetical I am a student amongst other things transaction: Have you ever looked at the sky on (including classical Greek and Latin) a overcast day? What colour is it? Grey. Wrong, of historical linguistics. I don't know the sky is blue, it is the clouds you see. Grai is exactly what were the boundaries of that which is mistaken for. Peterbooth is the Turkic speaking areas in 753 b.c., etymologically derived as an odious but one of them wasn't Asia Minor! toilet in which occurs the breaking of Evidently Mr. Booth has never learnt wind, a small fart, which, if he will or studied ancient history or he would take the following as advice, know from the days of Republican Rome gradually diminishes and disappears. up to the Seljuk and Ottoman Turk's I am a man and have never invasions and migrations in the Middle claimed otherwise. Some of my stories Ages Greek was the dominant language in have female leads, and if the Asia Minor - well, the coastal regions characterization has inadvertently and major river valleys, and most of convinced readers that they were the surviving speakers of the authored by a woman, I can only Anatolian languages would have been consider it a compliment to my bilingual during the Hellenistic and ability. It is because women are a Imperial eras. consuming passion of mine that I try Please read Freya Stark or my to characterize them passionately, article. lovingly and well. (Yes, I'm being more feline than Regarding errata, a correction anything else, but I'm in the middle incorrectly corrected; the ultimate of revising for exams and an error so line of EXPERIMENTALISMAN should have easy to pounce upon is hard to resist. read, "No more to dream, at last I Besides, it's appalling enuff when one sleep." (26.6.91) meets uni. students who haven't grasped pleasurably the concept of PETER BOOTH, PO Box 44, Woodridge, Qld 4114. reading for pleasure - I prefer to maintain the illusion that at least The laser-printing is a giant some fans are well-informed readers leap for zinekind. The Imagewriter with broad interests - y'all know that (or the like) font you used was a bitch to read at times. First ETHEL mythical being, the Renaissance fan?) THE AARDVARK now TM, it seems the (25.6.91) minimum standard for zines seem to be laser-printing... GRAI HUGHES, 22 Blue Hills Cresc., Blacktown 2148. CASSIOPEIA B's style reminded me What's in a name? as a renowned bard of Flaubert's. Marie-Louise appears once wrote. Title and nom de plume are to be influenced by the French as much a part of text as text itself. Romantics. The story itself was OK. I have written under a range of Ron, how did DISCONNECT make it signatories: Grai Hughes, Staktepos past your editorial mind? That had to Apochroia, Steven Thron and South are be the 9 billionth time I'd read an just a few, some of which also appear epigram like that. as characters in the stories of these To this date I've wondered to other mythological players. As any the meaning of THE YANKEE PRIVATEER or writer knows, the invention of names Mae Strelkov's discourses, neither and the significance behind them is contributed to SF or fiction itself in

THE MENTOR 72 page 46 any way, but it is a comment you ready for a retirement home, or an attached to the end of my last letter enthusiastic man who is wise enough to which I feel goes against everything I know that innovation and surprise are thought TM was about. To get to the out there. Your Sense of Wonder may point, I'll quote you: "There is a be gone, yet you have made a zine for big difference between SF readers and the last 25 years, why? To prove SF fans - the fans have usually lost futility? Really, the comments you that "Sense of Wonder" with SF and no hung on to the end of my letter are longer read it." Then what are you stupid. Think about it. doing producing a fanzine? Your zine (23.6.91) carries both SF and related fiction (Well, I was a little unclear there - I and book reviews. If you're a fan, should have written sf faaaan, though then by your own definition, you nowadays, those people call themselves sf fans - shouldn't have a skerrick to do with witness the nominations for Ditmars. In that zinedom and book reviewing; perforce - regard I am an sf reader, rather than an sf fan. you have grown up, lost your sense of Depends on your depth of knowledge of sf fandom. wonder and no longer read it, Reading Chuck Connor's reprinting of Harry Warner's remember. So, you're doing us kids a ALL OUR YESTERDAY'S essays, you can see it all favour by printing fan fiction and happened before, in the 1930's and 1940's, let reviewing books, then? Every fan I alone the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. - Ron. can think of reads the shit in some profusion. Most fanzines don't have SHANE DIX, 2/26 Diagonal Rd, Glengowrie, S.A. 5044. SF, true, but they are music, film and THE CRYSTAL OUT OF SPACE by P.J. sport zines, so they don't have to, to Roberts had the promise of a good they? Frankly, your comment is SF/horror story, though I felt the ridiculous and enforces an earlier overall effect was spoiled with allegation I made concerning a "been excessive amounts of useless there, done that' attitude. information. The story could be I can refer to a recent letter considerably tightened, for example, Jean Weber sent me, where she riles me by getting rid of the rubbish about for claiming her fanzine, WEBER Louise recalling scenes from the BLACK WOMAN'S WREVENGE, is SF based. She LAGOON movie, and Shane's own swore black and blue it was nothing preference to modern horror flicks. more than a glorified letter to Something along the lines of: friends, despite the fact she reviewed Feeling something nip her foot, Louise called books as well and talked about out in panic, 'Something bit my foot!' conventions. Is TM an overblown letter to mates as well? Be prepared 'Jaws lives!' Shane teased. to back up incredibly dumb statements ... would work a lot better in Ron, no matter if you know more than my eyes, and would not detract from me, or seen more of the world. Sure the horror atmosphere which was trying half the things I say are offensive, to be established. And I also think but I'm still able to answer any the ending could have been improved challenge. If my letters "shed light markedly by not elaborating on what on the LoC writers' personality", well happened in the years that followed more fool them, because the written the cordoning off of the lake. A more word rarely reveals a damned thing, suggestive ending would have been but despite claims that I know zip suitably more chilling, with, say, the about fandom when I call all nerds, is mentioning of heavy rains and the lake just a cry from the wilderness. overflowing into the river... Thus it I have the advantage of being an implies rather than explains, and outsider looking in. You are all leaves a bit more for the reader to likely to class punks and skinheads think about. Of course, I could be into the same boat as well, although completely off the mark and the whole diversity does exist amongst their thing could just as well have been an ranks. elaborate parody of early pulp fiction So, brownie points to guys like (the title would tend to support this me, David Tansey, Peter Brodie and theory). Maybe. Anyway, the best of Glen Chapman for exercising their this issue's fiction. vaunted right to bigmouth. I've Another good looking glossy gotten enough letters from David to cover with Mark McLeod's artwork. know exactly how he feels about Pity you're going to be losing the fandom, and his views echo mine. He full colour cover though. Never mind. just hasn't voiced himself in TM to As long as you don't lose the make people realise that. contributors themselves, we should be And, to throw a wrench into the alright. sombrero factory, TM has to be the And no, Mr Brodie, I've no best-looking zine in Australia, even intentions of changing my diet just if its contents fall short of its yet. (2.7.91) cover. I do look forward to getting each issue, not just to be carping BUCK COULSON, 2677W-500N, Hartford City, IN either, and #71 is good, but... come 47348, USA. on, Ron, what are you? A jaded old man

THE MENTOR 72 page 47 Most of the FAN QUIZ questions "fake-fans". We're not over that in TM 71 didn't include answers that stage yet, though very few fans pay fitted my reactions at all. #1 (e) much attention to it. There's gender 'So What'. #2 (f) Write the damned bias in fandom, too, but mostly less letter. #3 (d) #4 (f) Books, what than there is in society in general. else? #5 (e) Who needs a special Unfortunately, the "Five place? #6 (g) None of the above. #7 Civilized Tribes" (Cherokee, Choctaw, (e) It's the only con that hasn't had Chicasaw, Creek and I believe me for a GoH. #8 (f) None of the Seminole) not only competed with white above. #9 I never attend costume farmers but they were a minority which functions. #10 (d). Incidentally, in could be ousted with comparative question 7, answers b and c are safety. Though the Seminoles gave the reasons for accepting the alleged whites a nasty surprise. honor of FGoH; not reasons for it Err... review of GREENMANTLE. being offered; even humor should be "... the last man he had killed had consistent. been found. His boss and his Not at all bad fiction, though I girlfriend had also been found dead.. didn't find any one story vastly the hit men of his previous quarry superior to the others. opened fire..." And then you say it's As fo the fifteen credit cards "for those who like a good fantasy, that Jackson mentioned, 7 are for without the blood and gore.'' assorted brands of petrol (on a long Right... (17.6.91) trip it's handy to be able to take whatever brands are available), 4 are STEVEN PROPOSCH, 8 Bogong Crt, Forest Hill, Vic cards for specific chain stores, one is for telephone calls (for help, and 3131. that one has come in handy more than To begin with I'd like to thank once), and 3 are actually general- you for replying so promptly to my purpose cards, VISA, Mastercard and submission. Your rejection letter is, Discover, the last of which I've never without doubt, the best rejection I used. have yet received! In real terms, "memory metal" is It sounds weird, I know, but I metal which can be treated in a shall elucidate. The two rejections I specific way; usually heated, if I have received from AUREALIS magazine recall correctly, and it will reform were, believe it or not, form letters! to its original shape. (The first The ticked box on one had something shape into which it was formed, not like "insufficient dialogue" written back into the original ore.) However, alongside it. I was, at that time, I don't even remember it being used in largely ignorant of the SF scene in FORBIDDEN PLANET, or whether it was this country, so I asked if the used in the laboratory first. editors would be able to supply any Seems to me that the information on it. I'm still waiting. relationship between the pound and the I'm still largely ignorant. $ that Terry Jeeves questions was The one other rejection I have about right for that period. I do received, (I haven't been writing for know that the pound slipped to less long enough to collect many), was from than two dollars at one time, because Penguin Books. I had sent them a I was buying books and magazines from bunch of poetry to peruse. They gave Ken Slater back then. Of course, that me the distinct impression that it was was the English pound... did Australia returned unread. "Penguin publishes very have pounds or dollars? (Yes, I should check the original article before little poetry, and on the whole we commenting.) only consider work by poets who have [Australia had pounds, then when we had a substantial amount converted to dollars back in about 1966 we took the published in literary magazines." ten shilling note as the dollar, while the UK stuck See what I mean. Not a word of to the full pound as their main unit - pun advice or constructive criticism. intended. We also went metric a few years later Nothing to help a young writer to grow and most people found that a lot harder for the and develop. But I'm sure you've old brain to come to grips with; even now I find it heard all of this before. easier to visualise feet, as against, say, 40 cms - Your letter, on the other hand, Ron] forced me to read my stories again Well, originally a science (for the hundredth time), but with your fiction fan was a devoted reader of criticisms in mind. As a result I have science fiction, just as football fans rewritten ( ). BUT I have are people who get out as often as also lost my previous doubts about my possible to watch the games. It writing abilities and my style. didn't require a fan to read only I like the stream-of- science fiction, or do anything consciousness beginning and largely besides read the stuff. Then came disagree with your criticisms..... fanzines and conventions and various (26.6.91) authoritative fans decreed that a fan was (whatever the authority was interested in) and all others were

THE MENTOR 72 page 48 MARIANNE PLUMRIDGE, PO Box 735, Mulgrave North, lifeboat. It was well written with uncomplicated themes. Nice. Vic 3170. I enjoyed Buck's column. It's I thought that at least this always good to find out new things issue (TM 71) deserves comment. Mark about fellow fans. Makes for a three- McLeod's cover grabbed me as soon as I dimensional picture, instead of just a released TM from its plastic prison. face and voice seen and heard at What a superb piece! As you know, fannish events. Ron, my own artwork often involves the Blair Hunt's IS ANYBODY THERE? sea and its creatures, so this one was a thought provoking read. Did I definitely appealed. Enough for me to miss something in the conclusion or dig out issue #69 and reread Mark's have I guessed correctly? That Max biography attached to his portfolio. kept his vigil longer than he thought? It's nice to know that someone shares In the darkness, and possibly given one's outlook for the future. Even in the non power to life support, turned light of misnomers and atrocities to sleep into death. That determination the Earth and its inhabitants one to see the experiment through, made tends to try and find some saving him open the door at the right time nobility about the human race. I (however ghostly) so that the signal think it's called hope. might be heard. The alien saved, and I've been dropping quite a few contact made. Or was Max just of my media art and writing precognitive and the "many years" just commitments in the last six months. a slip up on the author's/typist's Trying to get back to grass roots I part? I enjoyed this story very suppose and find out what I still love much. about SF. I've been doing more A CHANGE OF HEART was okay. A fantasy work of late in protest good idea that could become part of against my media deadlines. There is something bigger. THE CRYSTAL OUT OF more of "me" in my personal stuff than SPACE was an entertaining read, with there is in the media material, good characterisation. I thought this besides there are only so many ways one very good too. one can flog an inspirationally dead To Joy Buchanan: I too can read horse. Don't get me wrong. I love several books in a day. But I can the media stuff, and more often than appreciate your daughter's disorder. not, I enjoy creating new perceptions, I have trouble with small series of but it has been a long time since I numbers (i.e. post codes, that kind of actually enjoyed it like I used to in thing). Give me a ten digit phone or the beginning. I guess I'm feeling publication number and I can rattle it jaded and am trying to regain my sense back to you no problem. But the of wonder of SF. It has been working smaller ones escape me. My baby a bit too. The fact that I'm really sister thumps me occasionally for my starting to enjoy the literary efforts reading talent, but she can knit a in TM are a start. Media artist I may jumper in three days... I take twelve be labelled, but I was an SF lit. fan months. So even though your daughter before I ever joined media fandom. I has difficulty reading, be assured was writing straight SF (all now that there is a talent elsewhere safely buried in a box somewhere) waiting to show itself. before I was twelve. So now I'm going Congratulations on her determination. to try and find out if lit. fandom is I enjoyed your trip report on any different than the current media your 1970's tour, Ron. It was an society. I'm not looking for anything engrossing read. Please don't wait 21 in particular in fandom, except years for the trip report on the next camaraderie, a little fun, and a one, I couldn't stand the suspense. sharing of ideas. Besides when you I'll be seeing you and Susan in San lot bicker, you seem to do it a lot Francisco in '93 for ConFrancisco. more cleanly. Honestly? And I'm Another thing I wanted to getting to know some of you through comment on was the way you've been your letters to TM. Maybe I'll even reviewing past (I mean "really" past) meet some of you at Syncon next year. conventions and fan activities. It's I've been hearing all these stories really great to hear about what "made" about lit. cons... Australian fandom, and where it came I really enjoyed the stories in from. No matter how cynical people issue #71. It's hard to put my finger get about fandom, we were all wide- on it, but CASSIOPEIA B really eyed and enthusiastic in the appealed to me. Perhaps because it is beginning. It's refreshing to see written in the first person. A very that fans still go to conventions to personal concept. The story is about share ideas, meet people and enjoy and someone being worth enough to be share their chosen interests. Perhaps saved, but read in the right frame of I've seen too much of the "what can mind, the reader can easily put fandom do for me" instead of the "what themselves in the place of the can I share with my fellow fan". heroine. Consciously or not, everyone (4.7.91) likes to think that they matter enough to be the one chosen to go into the

THE MENTOR 72 page 49 LAURRAINE CORMACK, 15 Gannon Pl., Charnwood same) - presumably this must be some sort of first, or is it? ACT 2615. COUNTER-CLOCK WORLD (re your THE MENTOR 71 impressed me review) has one scene which deserves enormously. It's definitely one of mention as the ultimate writer's your best issues. The layout was nightmare - that as time runs lovely, a real pleasure. On the whole backward, writers have to expunge the contents lived up to it. their manuscripts line by line. Your A CHANGE OF HEART is possibly comment "when he was giving religion a the best thing I've read from Shane glance" is I think a little misleading Dix. A good, interesting idea which - there is very little, certainly of has been very well executed. I was his novel-length work, that is not both interested and touched. I don't exploring religious ideas in one way think I could fault this piece at all. or another within the fabric of IS ANYBODY THERE? was a little events, though usually the ideas are predictable, and some of the dialogue so deeply heretical in any orthodox was a bit clumsy, and the end a little sense that Dick's own statement that rushed, but despite all that I enjoyed he was basing such explorations on the it. beliefs of the Episcopalian (American Lyn Elvey came up with a real branch of the Church of England) gem in DISCONNECTED. Short and sharp, Church seem a curious self-deception exactly the right length. It was even allowing for the present amusing and effective. Joy Buchanan's theological diversity of that church. piece about her daughter's reading Have often heard of the Amtrak difficulties was touching and gave me Wars - my problem is I can't take the pause - exactly what she intended, I concept seriously enough to try any suppose. It seemed a slightly because the word Amtrak is so surprising inclusion, but was all the associated in my mind with the more effective for being a little American passenger rail network - like unexpected. calling a British SF series the THE CRYSTAL OUT OF SPACE was Britrail Wars! Another unfortunate both nasty and effective. I liked the name choice is I think Rocall for a way they didn't find a solution. Doom fantasy realm, since the real Rocall and gloom seems to be fashionable is a granite North Sea outcrop just these days, but there are still a lot big enough for an observation station of clever heroes ready to save the day of some sort; hence Rockall at the drop of a hat. It's refreshing immediately associates with effall! when one fails to turn up. [Interestingly enough, the Amtrak War And now for the negatives. I series reached the Best-seller list in Australia, found CASSIOPEIA B very clumsy and which is why the publishers had Patrick Tilley out derivative. This theme has been done here on an author's tour. The waggon-trains dozens of times in dozens of ways. featured in the novels brought in the Amtrak name, This rendition wasn't particularly I think, as noted in the last book of the series. well thought out, and lacked life. - Ron.] The end seemed to be tacked on because Glen Chapman's loc comment: it had to be said, although we all "There is no set way to build a knew what was going to happen. castle, so you can configure it any ALDERSON IN THE DOCK struck me way you like" must be the as a bit pointless and definitely understatement of all time - anyone self-indulgent. It looked at first as who can find two identical castles, of though it might be a clever little any period, even when built as a group piece, but this never eventuated. by the orders of one person, as with (30.6.91) the Edwardian castles in Wales, or the f10 towers of the Dublin Pale, has STEVE SNEYD, 4 Nowell Place, Almondbury, W. pulled off some sort of a miracle! Now if it'd been identical Roman Yorkshire HD5 8PB, UK. forts, then "can be done". Sad to see so little art in TM This question of claiming more 70, though the stunning cover should I and more cultures as of Black African suppose be enough for any but the origin (brilliantly parodied many greedy. I presume from the curious years ago by Waugh in BLACK MISCHIEF's sunken rimmed areas round each stone account of the Azanian Embassy) does that these are literally rolling seem a pointless ahistoricity; when stones, perhaps even sentient ones, or sub-Saharan Africa has a wide range of pulled about by some mysterious force? genuine high-order achievements to A picture instinct with half- boast - Zimbabwe, the Benis comprehended mystery, and beautifully sculptures, immense achievements in reproduced. orally transmitted poetry in many Responding in no particular places, etc etc - why muddy the water order - good to see SF poetry getting with bogus or dubious claims? The a place at VolgaCon - the wording is a latest one surfacing here is the bit gnomic in the con descrn, but I demand that Cleopatra should be played assume the con is actually taking only by black actresses. Since she place on a river boat (or flotilla of was Macedonian descent (and, as I

THE MENTOR 72 page 50 understand it the Ptolemies followed Incidentally, enthusiasts for this the previous Pharaonic tradition of mutation genre might enjoy a new Sheri incestuous marriages to maintain the S. Teppell novel, GRASS, which handles bloodline, so legitimate children will the theme very vividly. have remained fairly thoroughly of Your con history obviously would that "blood-group") this seems merely fascinate those who know the silly. Since there are possibilities people/places, but equally obviously I of a fairly high order that the can't comment (nor, casting back a original megalith builders were from page or so, do I feel impelled to North Africa/Malta (possibly a proto- comment on the poems this time.) Berber group), I await the claim that HUMAN ERROR is very readable, Stonehenge was built by black Africans the story-within-a-story element is - or perhaps it has already been made handled in a tidily non-confusing way, somewhere? and as a parody of a certain type of Seeing Harry Warner's loc cliche SF it is a smile-raiser, if not reminds me that I recently treated a belly-laugh. But I feel it is myself to a copy of ALL OUR YESTERDAYS either much too long or much too short - not the original one, which I - much too long for the import of the believe a highly expensive rarity, but joke, much too short if the intent was an omnibus of HW Jrs' writings about to also parody the interactions of fanzines and other matters, 40 writers and editors (and indeed the reprinted articles dating from between coming to "unwanted life" of their 1951 and 1975. This megatome was material). produced by Chuck Connor, and the UK I thought I was badly paranoid, price is an amazingly reasonable f4.50 but (one final cast-back to LOCland) (no idea what Oz price wd. be - as to think that o'seas locs were at the Chuck is in the RN, he'd presumably front to pander to the poms is really have no problems if paid in Australian conspiracy theory time gone mad - if currency) - anyway, excuse the you put em last the cry presumably wd gratuitous plug, but it really is a then be "Clarke's giving foreigners feast for anyone interested in the last word!" Reminded me of the entertaining writing and ancient theory here that the First Class fanzines. (Chuck's address: c/- carriages of HSTs (High Speed Trains) Sildan House, Chediston Road, Wissett, are at the back leaving London for nr Haleswroth, Suffolk 1P19 0NF, "the provinces" so first class England. passengers can stay nearer London than [I've read that volume - or at least most anyone else, and at the front going of it at this time, and heartedly recommend it to toward London so they get there first! any fan serious about fandom - at least serious The whole question of whether a in the sense of being a part of it. A MUST for publication is actually paying any fan's library. - Ron.] contributors is a matter of very His (HWJ's) loc mentions that complex definition - one semi-pro he'd never been able to pin down the here, in a time of stringency, gave originator of "the usual" re sending contributors free ads to the value of out fmzs. It may be of interest that the cash payment they shd've had, to Derek Pickles, editor in the '50s of promote their books or etc. Some US PHANTASMAGORIA over here, and who's ones pay home contributors in cash, just recontacted fandom after many overseas ones in subs or stamps or years' gap, believes that he himself other items in kind. One here sends originated the phrase/system. the money it makes as a surplus to The Peter Brodie list is a charity, so authors, though not stunning bit of research - just wish getting cash, do get a "warm glow". he'd revealed how many viewings of the It seems to me, that unless a so-much- film it took to compile it! a-word cut-off is imposed and the BOIL THE WATER, though the organisers demand to see evidence an concept is pretty cliched (the most actual cheque/check has been paid out, memorable use of the particular idea then the vast cloud of unknowing of human beings pulled into a generated by pointless attempts at mutational eco-cycle of linked beings definition is unleashed yet again! I can think of being the ending of the My congratulations on achieving first of Vance's DEMON PRINCES the grand total of 70 issues - series.. Aldiss also draws on it in a remarkable figure, and sterling proof beautiful man-to-seal image, that the theory that using "fanfic" reminiscent of the Border ballads, in puts the black spot on fanzines a story, etc etc ad inf) is handled in belongs with the belief in phlogiston a lively way that pulls the reader on, and that the Berlin Wall would last though I found implausible in for a thousand years. 23.5.91 hindsight the fact that if this time An extraordinary cover again on the watchers were able to get so much #71 - sentient semi-metallic flying information, nearly up to the point of icebeast-city-aircraft-war machine? George's final transmutation, why had Curiously symbolic today hearing the so little been learned with the same news of the coup in Soviet Union, technology in previous agent-ops? something vast and powerful out of the

THE MENTOR 72 page 51 Northland with the tiny glimpse of a all compare with it is the British fan warmer green world crushed into a John D. Owen's SHIPYARD BLUES. squeezed threatened bubble... anyway, I am pleased to hear from your too early to say anything sensible abt Editorial Slant, Ron, that there are some the news but as I say yr cover takes new venues for Australian sf writers on a curious new meaning in the to publish their work. Perhaps it is context. partially due to the sterling Enjoyed Buck Coulson's tale of influence set by THE MENTOR in his "religious operations" - I too encouraging indigenous talent. And by have Universal Life Church ordination, all means, encourage your indigenous given by a friend in America years talent. Don't have your writers ago, but have never been tempted to imitate the US and British SF writers. try to "practise" whatever the faith After all, I sometimes think it is is - I suspect in any case I would not because Bertram Chandler was a sea- be allowed to perform any ceremonies going man living in your part of the of legal validity here anyhow. world where the night sky is Of the stories, Shane Dix's A completely different from our Northern CHANGE OF HEART is genuinely moving - hemisphere sky that he might've gotten successfully converts a the idea for the Rimworld series. By technical/mathematical concept into a the way, I yearn to gaze upon what very convincing human dilemma. must be your astonishing Australian DISCONNECTED was an amusing shaggy night sky. Maybe if I save my pennies dog/black comedy tale. CASSIOPEIA B I can get to your Land someday. began atmospherically but the happy I think David Tansey's story is ending seemed to come too easily to be the winner of the issue. A stories- wholly believable, and THE CRYSTAL OUT within-a-story story. I like that OF SPACE, while if filmed I think it kind of thing since I have a Douglas would make a super B picture Hofstadterian fondness for such thriller/horror in the '50s genre, had recursions. It is interesting that characters so uninteresting that it unlike some avant-garde fiction where was hard to care on the printed page recursion is all too typically used how many bits of them the hungry (because literary critics always seem "water" chovelled. to love it to death, eh?), this device Julie Hawkins' comments about in the Tansey story is the entire raison castles tempt me towards the idea of a d'etre of the plot. I like the idea, lengthy riposte, but I will spare and the story is deftly and you... I am genuinely impressed, economically told. My favorite piece though, how many oversimplifications of fiction for this issue. and misleading statements she has Your ruminations are managed to build into such a short fascinating. I always like to hear space. To take just the easiest about fannish socializing in other example to deal with briefly: countries because that way I get to "Concentric" means one life of defense discover all sorts of ways your mores fully enclosing another; having a differ from American ones, fannish or common point. Therefore, an earthwork otherwise, and I find such information fully enclosing a keep is a concentric of interest. As for that orgy, why structure. Anyway, as said, will not hold an Orgycon where the main forbear from "taking up swords" on activity would be daytime and early this one, but I do politely suggest evening orgies, after which the sated she studies a few books on (medieval) and exhausted fans would gather in military architecture somewhere along their hotel rooms to watch movies, the line before laying down the law on game, hold panel discussions, smof, this particular topic. etc.? Well, it was just a thought, I If memorability is a test of an never expected it to become reality. SF writer, I must admit "Elron's" I like the angelic girl on page SLAVES OF SLEEP has struck with me at 16. A beautifully drawn piece of least in outline for decades when many work, the line is so flowing and light other (probably much better) SF novels and deft. My compliments to the chef! I've read are totally forgotten - I John Danza's daughter is very don't think the fact he proved to have pretty. I'll bet she has the a sinister genius for cult-creation lascivious young malefans running necessarily makes him a bad writer: after her, eh? the two things are surely not mutually I have a better idea of what you exclusive. (19.8.91) look like now, Ron. You are tall and GARY DEINDORFER, 447 Bellevue Ave,, #9-B, Trenton, rather studious looking in a pleasing sort of way. A photo of you next NJ 08618, USA. issue, please, Susan? As for me, I am Another lovely color cover on TM medium height, dark hair, blue eyes, 70. It is always a pleasure to moustache, glasses, hair combed over receive an issue of THE MENTOR from my forehead Julius Caesar style (to the Antipodes, definitely one of the conceal the high, receding nature of visually most beautiful fanzines I my hairline), somewhere between very get. The only other one that can at stocky and slightly fat; that is, I

THE MENTOR 72 page 52 have too big a gut, and heavy legs and as Hayden launches into his large shoulders, but nothing else but schizophrenic tirade against the the gut is fat on me except for a pair Russians, "Haha, right, Jack," "Haha, of what have gotten to look like yes, Jack.' Have your ever had some puffed out chipmunk cheeks. I would nut talk to you and have felt that cast around for a recent photo to send way? I have. Not only that, I dare you both but can't find one at the admit sometimes I have been the one moment. mouthing off that the other person was I think Margaret Pearce's story forced to humor, but not so much any is too much a replay of her story in more as years ago when I used to THE MENTOR 69. You have the homo overdo the psychedelics. sapiens, the hermaphroditic aliens, We all live and lurch. and their absorption of the humans I love Julie Vaux speculating into their strange life cycle. Is not that European cultures are descendants that a run through of the other story? of psychopaths ejected from more The other story was very good, and I southerly matrilineal cultures. Who hope that Margaret, whom I feel shows knows that this might actually be the great promise of being able to sustain truth? Anyway, it's a canny a professional writing career, isn't observation or insight on Julie's running thin on her ideas. part. Peter Brodie's list is awesome. Harry Warner is also typically It has been some years since I have canny on the Eloi being a long-term- seen FORBIDDEN PLANET, certainly one for-little meat source for the of the finest sf movies of all time. Morlocks. I'll have to rent a copy and refer to Mae Strelkov certainly has me this exhaustive list which must have wondering about the redness or the been exhausting for Peter to compile, lack thereof of the star Sirius. but I am glad that he went to all that Laurraine Tutihasi is someone trouble. By the way, wasn't actress whose intelligent locs I have seen in Anne Francis a doll back in those fanzines for over ten years. May she days? And any movie with the keep writing her perceptive comments magnificent Walter Pidgeon can't go in fanzines and maybe someday (one wrong. By the way, you are aware, I hopes) in prozines for decades to believe, that it is said this movie is come. based on Shakespeare's play THE Nice illo on page 52. TEMPEST, with Pidgeon as the wizard I am beginning to realize that Prospero and the robot as his slave Grai Hughes has a real talent for word Caliban? magic. In other words he or she is a Always good to see a Mike real stylist. I like this story very Glicksohn loc. He writes them so much. deftly and unpretentiously, and By the way, the new album from perhaps it helps that he's pleasantly Midnight Oil is really beautiful. soused while he's writing them. I They capture the feeling of what I can't write when I'm bombed; I would imagine Australia to be like outside have to keep hitting the "correct" key of the citified area; that is, it's on this electronic typewriter every lonely mysterious holy vastness. other word or so. The fireworks I (5.7.91) expected to see in Glicksohn's reply to John Tipper's provocative insults SUE BURSZTYNSKI, 11/127 Brighton Rd, Elwood, Vic aimed at the Glick in #69 fail to take place this time. Maybe next time, or 3184. next Glicksohn letter, hmmm? But I What a superb cover on THE jest. I don't think feuds help MENTOR 71!. There were also many fandom. They hurt it more, as witness other things to like about the zine. the Bergeron and Ashley brouhahas. I do like reading book reviews; with I don't begrudge you Aussie's books as dear as they are nowadays, your Ditmar awards. No reason I can it's nice to have the chance to read see why you blokes shouldn't have your about new releases before shelling out own awards. It means very little to your hard-earned money, and to find me otherwise, because awards for out what's available. writing, movies, music or whatever Buck Coulson's column was don't influence me very much. entertaining. Makes me think of that I agree with Shane Dix that DR. scene in BIMBOS OF THE DEATH SUN where STRANGELOVE is an immortal classic. a fannish couple want to marry at a Peter Seller's, Sterling Hayden's and con, in Starfleet uniform, and invite George C. Scott's performances can along a visiting folk-singer to play cause me to chuckle inwardly to myself the role of Scotty... You'd get some every time I think about them. My weird requests, I should think. favourite scene is where Peter Sellers The SF FAN QUIZ was fun. I go a is humoring Hayden as General Jack D. score of 33 and gave myself a pat on Ripper whom he realizes wants to start the back, but then, one never knows a nuclear war and is also completely with these things; I know of a bonkers. He chuckles and keeps saying happily-married mother-of-several who did a quiz in a women's magazine

THE MENTOR 72 page 53 according to which she was about ready would appreciate it if you would for a divorce! distribute copies of the ballot with Quite enjoyed the fiction, on the next mailing of THE MENTOR. the whole. CASSIOPEIA B was a nice On a personal note, just a few bit of wishful thinking - wouldn't we comments about the last two issues of all like to escape the pollution and THE MENTOR. Congratulations on the start again? Perhaps a bit too much color reproductions for your covers. exposition, not enough story. The rocks on #70 were particularly I'm afraid I totally missed the effective. I enjoyed your convention point of A CHANGE OF HEART, so can't reminisces as they helped put a few comment on it. faces to names, and explain some of THE CRYSTAL OUT OF SPACE was the "mythos" associated with well-written, if a bit gory for my Australian fandom. For someone who taste. I'm afraid, however, that I has only been involved in active can't believe that all this business fandom since 1985, I appreciate any of something coming from space and history being passed on. first fish, then kids, being chewed In reply to Mike Glicksohn, the up, could simply happen without the two major expenses for Australian arrival of the press and several dozen conventions are the Function Rooms and government, army and science types, or the overseas GoH airfare. For a four that it wouldn't be reported by the day Convention, say the Natcon over locals. It was also hard to swallow Easter, with probably 2-3 program the idea that, having seen this thing strands, and 200-300 members, the hire dissolve in the lake, nobody would of rooms (Hucksters, Art Show, video think to connect it with the deaths of and film, Main Program, second all the fish. Also, is it really program, Fan Lounge) will come to necessary for the lake to take on the about $8-10,000 at the moment, shape of a mouth? Would such a life- depending on the quality of the hotel form need a mouth as we know it? being used. Add in $2-4,000 for one, Maybe it just digests things directly? or two, overseas air fares and the It's not a bad idea for a bit of black initial cost is $10-14,000 for these humour and might just work out well, two items alone. For an estimated re-written and tightened a bit, as a attendance of 250 say, this sets the horror tale. Good luck, P.J. Roberts! minimum membership rate at $40-56. My favourite, in this issue, was The attendee would also have to pay IS ANYBODY THERE? It's a nice, gentle for hotel accommodation which can tale; besides, I like cats, so there! range from $50-180 per night for a DISCONNECTED was cute. double, again depending on the hotel. Has Joy Buchanan thought of With a minimum cost of attending at asking a few folk with better speaking about $240 (3 nights, a couple) voices to tape books for her daughter? Australian cons are much more I'll do one if she'll let me know what expensive than a US one of the same the young lady likes. I don't mind; number of members, mainly due to the we have a talking books program at the accommodation charges. The Con school where I work and believe me, committee usually wants to keep the after the first four or five, you no membership cost down as much as longer feel embarrassed by the sound possible, so don't spend up big in of your own voice. We also put in a provisions for the fan Lounge. They'd bit of music to jazz the tape up and rather use the money for film hire, or the kids love it. Or there are the a make-up demonstration, say, not food professional talking books, which are which you can get down the street. not as dear as they were; if you poke Thanks to Steve Sneyd for his around, you can find them on special, comments on ISOTOPIA. The title was too. They are usually read by well- originally designed as a play on the known actors and often don't cost any word utopia, plus I liked using the more than, say, a trade paperback. isotope reference given the content of Oh, yes, Ron, there certainly the poem. I hadn't realised the equal are print SF fans who name their state (of destruction) explanation was children after their favourite also present. By coincidence, both characters; I know of one, at least - Steve and myself had poems in the and why not, as long as the name isn't recently published anthology TIME something weird the poor kid will have FRAMES from Rune Press. to keep explaining to people? David Tansey appears to have his (18.7.91) facts a bit mixed up when he refers to the "recent winning of the Huttcon ALAN STEWART, PO Box 222, World Trade Centre, short story competition by its Secretary" (page 43, THE MENTOR 70). Melbourne, Vic 3005. The Australian SF Media Award for best Firstly I am writing to you as fan Writer, awarded at Huttcon, was the current Australian FFANZ indeed won by Edwina Harvey, who Administrator with regard to the happened to be the Secretary of enclosed copy of the ballot for the Huttcon. The nomination and voting 1991/2 FFANZ race to bring a New for this award was conducted by an Zealand fan across to Syncon '92. I

THE MENTOR 72 page 54 independent Subcommittee, and into one of those traps? I read Mae nomination was open to anyone in Strelkov's article with interest, even fandom, and voting was by any member though much of it did go over my head. of the convention. The Short Story A lot of research appears to go into competition was won by Rory Ewins of her work. Tasmania whose only connection with Of the two issues I have read Huttcon was mailing in his story. (#70 and #71) I preferred the contents THE MENTOR 71 looks neat with of issue #70, though thought the the laser printer. The two column appearance of #71 was far superior. format definitely make the R&R Dept. The covers of both were quite lovely. more readable, but I'm not sure of Mark McLeod paints a striking picture. it's effect on the fiction, except to Has he ever had anything published - save paper with not as much white without meaning to sound condescending space overall. (20.7.91) - professionally? The standard of his [The two column format is definitely work tends to suggest he should have. better, I think, If there is only one column, then [In his short biography in TM 69 Mark there are too many words in one line for the eye to mentions he has had paintings published as cover take in at one sweep. I think three columns is art in OMEGA, as well as art in other magazines overdoing it, though, as there is too much white such as SIMPLY LIVING. In fact he is currently space and the words tend to be spaced too far apart selling many of his paintings - I have colour for justification, and if left unjustified, then photos of these, if anyone is interested. The the white space looks even worse. - Ron] prices range from $50 to $400. - He has moved to New Zealand recently and I have lost track of him - SUE THOMASON, 190 Coach Rd., Sleights, via Whitby, Hopefully I can re-contact him and get some more artwork for THE MENTOR - Ron.] North Yorks YO22 5EN, UK. I thought the fiction in #70 was Another superb colour cover on very good, especially HUMAN ERROR and THE MENTOR 70; this one reminded me BOIL THE WATER. I guess I missed the very much of a para-Tarot set of cards point completely of THE LAST HOPE. It by De Es called THE PHILOSOPHER'S was too wordy for me. The author STONE. This is a set of 40 concept seemed to be concentrating on dazzling cards based around "stone" as an us with style rather than content. I idea/element - does Mark McLeod know did read another Grai Hughes story them? The landscape in the cover recently in AUREALIS called 21st painting seems clean and sparse to me, CENTURY DREAMTIME and enjoyed it very rather than bleak and barren (perhaps much. About the only story I enjoyed because of the smoothness of the in #71 was Lyn Elvey's DISCONNECTED. ground, the softness and delicacy of Quite amusing. The rest was rather the cloud shapes in the sky, the bland. Was P.J. Roberts' story's complex shape-echoes between the title a misprint? Should it have read rounded stones, or the restrained cool something like THE CRYSTAL FROM OUT OF colours of the ground and stone). The SPACE (or "Outer Space", depending on stones seem almost alive to me; your breeding I suppose). there's a feeling of rightness to the [Grai Hughes' 21st CENTURY DREAMTIME was scene, animal or lush plant life would published in TM 62 in January, 1989. The title was seem out of place in that setting. I P.J. Roberts' own. - Ron.] get feelings of great calm and Ron Clarke's RUMINATIONS I was strength from the landscape; this is a only of minor interest. Being a place I'd like to visit and be quiet convention goer might have helped. in. History was never my strong point in I was both amused and impressed school though. by David Tansey's story HUMAN ERROR; a Sitting through a movie with very neat piece of writing which I Peter Brodie must be a real hoot. thoroughly enjoyed reading. I don't Very observant but - yawn - pass the want to analyse its effect; I'd rather popcorn. Sorry Peter. Don't mean to just enjoy it - this story and the be nasty. I see you have already got cover were definitely the highlights one croweater on your back in the R&R of the magazine for me. Dept, so I will steer clear of that fray. Don't wish to make enemies on BETTY WILDER, ADELAIDE, S. A. my first outing into these pages. Having been reading and enjoying I do like poetry, though rarely science fiction for a number of years have I seen it used as a decent medium now, it surprises me that I have never for science fiction. LOST YOUTH was a heard of THE MENTOR. You produce a good piece, but I would be hesitant in very professional looking magazine, calling it SF. and over the years I would imagine you I found the letter column to be would have seen a lot of the more the most entertaining of all. Some illustrious magazines fall by the amusing and interesting comments being wayside. bandied around here. But is Peter I loved Buck Coulson's column, Booth for real? I'm not sure if he is but I must admit to being left a joking or not. Though I would really little bemused by his closing remarks. like to know what his sex life has to Can you elaborate? Or am I one of do with anything. those "neofans" who has just fallen

THE MENTOR 72 page 55 Lastly, what in earth is an Come to think of it, alcohol is Apazine? (18.7.91) probably some people's way of coping {There are organisations of fans called with the terrors of shopping, Amateur Press Associations. You join one, send in particularly when seeing the prices. a certain number of copies of your own "magazine" - (It obviously doesn't improve taste - of at least one page length along with an annual that bloke was older than my father). fee, and the "Editor" - actually Compiler - staples Away from the trivia. Thanks it with one copy of each of the other contributors for TM 71. I really liked IS THERE to the Association and mails it back out to each contributor. So you get back your one page, plus ANYBODY OUT THERE? I have an idea the other contributor's pages. This mailing is that many of us like slightly-used called an APAzine. Then the contributors, for the themes in a new background. There's next mailing, comment on all the other pages in the nothing like familiarity, and the mailing except for their own. There may be up to satisfying feel of a well-rounded 30 contributions in each mailing. APAs tend to be story. Most enjoyable, and I like the fairly parochial, even ones distributed Nationally. cat touch. I must pay more attention - Ron.] to my cat, Tegan. Speaking of animals, does anyone MARIE-LOUISE STEPHENS, PO Box 138, Monbulk, Vic else call their pets after science 3793 fiction characters and writers? My You know, I find it difficult to father thought I was mad calling my criticize someone else's story; if I cat after a Dr Who character. He don't like it at all, I say so - preferred Doris Day but the name Tegan sometimes I might not agree because of Jovanka has stuck. I've heard of moral or religious concepts - every others called Nyssa and K-9. Somehow, criticism is so subjective - a friend to many this practice of naming pets likes what possibly a stranger does after characters is just as bad as not. I like to recommend: point out calling kids after characters. I have what I think should be altered or taught a few kids called Krystal (or point out the good bits which please. its variants), presumably courtesy What luck that we are all so different DYNASTY, going by their ages. That's and our interests vary so much - that surely no worse. really makes life interesting. I liked THE CRYSTAL OUT OF I am fascinated by Mae SPACE. Creepy notion, and it made me Strelkov's research as I love eye the Nepean River cautiously for a languages and also look for links, while (one person said she thought especially in those, where Latin is a twice about baths!). The last large basis. I read and re-read that and paragraph was an example of something the other article. A CHANGE OF HEART I teach my English students to avoid, - very moving... and try hard to avoid myself - When I looked at Blair Hunt's finishing a story too quickly. It story I thought at first that it really jarred, even though it got the looked a bit disconnected because of essential information across to the the many short paragraphs, but then I reader. I hope that was a summary of found they slotted well into each a forthcoming sequel, or the next other. It was a rather gentle story section of a novella. I'd like to with a satisfactory end to it. know more about how Earth adapted to a THE CRYSTAL... was well told, new menace. but my goodness it is frightening. I A PAIR OF ARROWS interested me, had to read it straight through and I but mainly because of my personal was glad I wasn't going to bed interest in linguistics, continued by immediately afterwards... tertiary study. Having learnt a "A new planet" they say - I am number of languages (still adding to my rapt - everything gone and destroyed, knowledge of those languages over the they say, now we can start again... I years, since you can't really claim to include a few lines which came to me "know" a language completely when it's as a result of it. (6.8.91) learnt as a second language), I can appreciate the threads which are drawn from one culture to others. RACHEL McGRATH-KERR, 5/10 Mulgoa Rd., Penrith, (8.8.91) NSW 2750. I've been gradually working my LYNDA WEYMAN, 8 George St, Kingswood, NSW . way through my list of things to do. I mostly found the other locs my It's about the only way I can get main interest in THE MENTOR. As I've myself organized, and even minor been a solitary SF fan for so long, I things like supermarket shopping have am interested to know what other SF to go on the list or my half of the fans are like. From there, I'm drawn fridge looks bare. Tonight's trip was to the stories they have commented on, a bit more eventful than usual. I was therefore going backwards. So far accosted by a middle-aged drunk who I've gone back as far as TM 69; now I wanted to know what I was doing may be stuck. Maybe I'd better try tomorrow, then what I was doing going forward. tonight, etc. etc. How fortunate that As for TM 71, I didn't enjoy I saw another checkout, nearly empty. everything in it. I did like Joy

THE MENTOR 72 page 56 Buchanan's SIX MONTHS TO READ A BOOK, I enjoyed your RUMINATIONS. It though. She made me realise what a gave a window into Australian lot I take for granted. convention fandom. I like the style of writing in I'm grateful to David Tansey for CASSIOPEIA B - right to the point, explaining the ending of his story, very much like diary entries. UNDER PRESSURE. However, his THE YANKEE PRIVATEER fascinated observation makes me wonder whether me. What does Buck Coulson do for a all us non-Aussie fans are stupid. crust? Does he always do weird Did all the Aussies understand the things? ending? I would have liked an Buck Coulson sounds as though he Introduction to ALDERSON IN THE DOCK. thinks home repairs are difficult [John Alderson has been writing locs and things to do. In my case, since I am contributing to TM for many years and long term small, anything that takes strength or readers of this zine know his foibles. This height I have to have help with. article was basically an explanation of some of However, other problems are not that John's basic writings which readers of THE MENTOR's difficult to deal with. One thing earlier issues will appreciate - Ron] that helps is a good reference book. A PAIR OF ARROWS was too deep Time-Life puts out a good book about for me, but maybe Mae Strelkov could home repairs. They also have a series do an article on fanzine jargon - I'm of books that go into more detail lost. about each home repair topic. Since I THE CRYSTAL OUT OF SPACE was bought my condo, I have repaired the enjoyable, right up to the last faucet, the toilet, and the tub faucet paragraph - what happened? (To the and spout in the main bathroom. All I author, I mean). needed were a few tools, most of which I think the author of IS I already owned, and some new parts. ANYBODY THERE? use of cats and dreams I paid less than thirty dollars for as contact mediums could make the all this. Even when I lived in an reader wonder what other everyday apartment, I fixed a toilet. I had a objects and occurrences may not be as good landlord, and he would have fixed they seem. I also liked the way the the leak quickly, but I found it easy author skipped from dream to reality. to do. I know other apartment If the purpose was to confuse the dwellers who wait months or even years reader as to which was which, I think for their landlords to repair things. he succeeded. No thanks, I prefer having more I found DISCONNECTED was control over my life. (6.8.91) enjoyable, concise and to the point. I The cover for THE MENTOR #71 is also thought it would be a great very nice. I'm sorry to hear this introduction to SF for the previously will be the last of your colour unitiated : no scientific jargon to covers, at least for the time being. confuse and no scary space monsters I enjoyed this instalment of for the weak hearted. Buck Coulson's THE YANKEE PRIVATEER. I considered that the ideas in My other favourite piece was Lyn Margaret Pearce's stories BOIL THE Elvey's short but humorous WATER and CREW WAITING were DISCONNECTED. interesting, but they could have more On the SF FAN QUIZ, I got a depth. We seem to skim along the score of 38. surface of the story. I also thought I have a few comments. I like a lot of the sentences overlong. Her the new look of the fanzine. You did style was similar to Anne McCaffrey's a nice job. Since I don't have a DRAGONSDAWN. modem, I haven't had any problems with Skipping back to TM 70, I'd like viruses. I feel I have heard enough to comment on THE LAST HOPE by Grai about them that should I get a modem Hughes. I found it hard to read at in future, I will know what to do. I first, but after a couple of hope you are able to keep them away. paragraphs, I tried reading it like a I hope you will be writing up a Shakespearian play, or poem, and I report of your experiences in the found it much easier, and actually an Soviet Union, or whatever they call it emotional experience. I also did this these days, when you go to Volgacon. before I got to the part that mentions There is no way I could afford such a the old bard himself. Really. trip. As it is, I'm not sure I'd want to go even if I could. I like to R LAURRAINE TUTIHASI, 5876 Bowcroft St., #4, Los travel in comfort, and the stories Angeles, CA 90016, USA. I've heard make that unlikely in the I like the cover of THE MENTOR Soviet Union. I, also, could not 70 afford to get to Chicago, though I My favourite story in the issue wanted to see a friend there. Like was THE LAST HOPE by Grai Hughes. The you, I didn't want to make a nuisance other stories, I'm afraid, all bore of myself to my friend. I don't plan some similarity to professional to go to San Fransisco. stories I had read elsewhere. In reference to Tom Jackson's letter, the Japanese are probably

THE MENTOR 72 page 57 correct in thinking that no one needs rather take that money and spread it more than two credit cards. Though I over four or five smaller, quieter have more, I doubt I use more than two cons where I can sit and talk to my of them regularly. I keep all my friends. (It helps to have attended store charge cards at home, so I don't nineteen worldcons in the past, of really use them. I have American course, because there's no doubt that Express mostly for the feeling of the worldcon experience is very security it gives me; I use it mostly different from that of a regional and to guarantee hotel rooms. I have a something that every fan ought to know Visa card that adds mileage to a a few times in their fannish careers. frequent flyer programme every time I And when I get a greater degree of use it. I have a gold Visa card, financial independence I expect I'll because it doesn't cost me anything to start attending them once again.) have it. I also have a Mastercard for I'd read Buck's column in the same reason and also because it another fanzine (probably ANVIL since gives me lower rates for long distance that's the other place I know he has a calls I make away from home than using regular column) and have already my phone card. The only "catch" is responded to it there. I don't that I have to use it as a regular remember recognizing that Buck had charge card at least once a year. I sent the same material to two also have a Discover card. It doesn't different fanzines before which cost anything, and I can charge my indicates that (a) I'm even denser Sears purchases on it and get a few than many people claim I am, or (b) pennies back. Buck doesn't usually do this sort of In answer to Buck Coulson, the thing. So which is it, Buck? Were British titles for the movies he you caught in a deadline squeeze or mentioned are as follows. CURSE OF THE have I been loccing the same material DEMON was called NIGHT OF THE DEMON. twice and never noticing? If the ENEMY FROM SPACE was QUATERMASS. THE latter, am I at least consistent? CREEPING UNKNOWN was QUATERMASS Methinks John Alderson's EXPERIMENT. I could not find an definition of "educated" is a tad too alternate title for X, THE UNKNOWN, so stringent but me also thinks John is that may have been the original title. up to his usual controversy-stirring My information comes from Halliwell's tricks and I have no intention of being FILMGOES'S COMPANION. (13.9.91) roped in by him again. So there. I actually read Elvey's MIKE GLICKSOHN, (Address as above) DISCONNECTED. It was amusing. Almost Another stunning cover on TM 71. Brownian in its compactness and that's Too bad it's the last I can look a compliment indeed. forward to enjoying. And if it'll put Mae's article is far too sercon your mind at ease I couldn't tell that for me but I did note her comment that the printers had managed to get it no invented word could have no crooked. It looked just fine and previous antecedents and still pass extremely effective to these non- into the language. The obvious artistic eyes. exceptions to such a statement are Once again I forced myself not "googol" and "googolplex" which are to read the fiction, thereby possibly accepted scientific terms that cannot depriving myself of a transcendental have any such antecedents. Perhaps experience. On the other hand, I Mae is unfamiliar with them but I'd couldn't help but noticing that the not have thought so as most fans know majority of the comments in the of them, whether they remember what lettercolumn that dealt with fiction they mean or how they appeared or not. from previous issues were either I have no children and always negative or at best lukewarm. There knew I never would have any but I'd were a few outright positive reactions imagine that it's the wish of every but they were definitely in the literate couple to pass on their love minority. I think this tends to of the printed word to their children, justify my decision, even if that to share that special magic. It must decision is perhaps a tad unfair to be extremely trying to have a child the writers who contribute fiction with dyslexia and my heart goes out to hoping for some feedback and/or active Ms Buchanan. I assume, though, that constructive criticism. Happily there her daughter's willingness to take the seem to be many TM readers happy to time and spend the effort that reading provide that feedback so I will sleep requires is consolation since so many tonight with a clear conscience. youngsters would simply have given up I'm sorry you'll have to miss when faced with such overwhelming CHICON for financial reasons but you difficulties. aren't alone. I'm not going for the To suggest a possible answer to same reason: I no longer feel that Tom Jackson's query on behalf of the the airfare plus hotel bill plus Japanese: until fairly recently a lot meals/drinks etc is worth it for what of places like gas stations and one gets from such a three-ring department stores insisted on their circus as I expect CHICON to be. I'd own personal credit cards and wouldn't

THE MENTOR 72 page 58 street please explain the difference a few parts that were a puzzle to me. between a chemical element and For example, question 6, answer d) compound...? etc. "How to get into the Fifth Dimension It all boils down to C.P. Snow's by using Action buses." Is this some twin culture paradox. sort of Australian in-joke, or a Education? There's not a lot of reference to some SF story I have it about. (19.8.91) forgotten about? I suppose a USA fan [Over the past twenty years or so John would have written in "The Lost Alderson has published his own fanzine, CHAO, and Angeles Rapid Transit District". Nola has had articles and letters published in a variety Frame-Grey can give you more details of Australian fanzines. And for some reason on this bus system that never does readers find themselves arguing with him about his anything right. published views... - Ron.] Joy Buchanan's article points out that we do need a wider selection SYDNEY J. BOUNDS, 27 Borough Rd., Kingston on of books-on-tape. My own experience Thames, Surrey KT2 6BD, UK. with dyslexics is minimal, and mostly Nice production for TM 71 and I whose who come into A.A., and thank thought the Fox Illustrations suited goodness we have the two main books on the magazine best. Why no verse this cassette tape! Many of those why were time? dyslexic found themselves unable to [I didn't have any suitable - Ron.] hold jobs, drifted into crime, or used Roberts' THE CRYSTAL OUT OF alcohol and drugs to escape the SPACE was the best story. problems of their dyslexia. DISCONNECTED amused me. Blair Hunt I Fortunately, they can speak as good as put in third place. anyone else at meetings, so we have Buck Coulson's article was helped many to get sober and stay fascinating and funny. Mae left me sober. far behind: I'm still struggling with The fiction was good, but I the English language. cannot really comment much about it. Joy's article was the star non- R Laurraine Tutihasi's letter fiction piece; an article of this kind reminds me of one of the disadvantages makes me feel how lucky I am. of working for the Post Office; that As usual, lots of interesting Christmas season. I decided to use up letters from all around the world. the rest of my vacation time this year Reviews: I've read few of these, for a two week trip to the Grand and some I've never heard of - but Canyon this November. This will be a then, now I'm retired, I find little way for me to get rested and refreshed time for reading. Life goes faster before the crisis situations hit. At these days. the Post Office during December, every I haven't been to a con for day is a crisis day. (26.8.91) years. Partly due to age and shortage of money, partly due to a reluctance MICHAEL HAILSTONE, PO Box 15, World Trade Centre, to travel. Though I shall be a guest at a vintage pulp and pb Book Fair in Melbourne, Vic 3005. London next month. Should be I thought I should comment on interesting, and I hope to meet people THE MENTOR #69, which shows how badly I've only corresponded with. behind I am with my reading. THE After the last two summers, hot MATALAN RAVE isn't happening at the and dry, this year we're back to a moment; while the next issue is nearly normal English summer, with a bit of all typed up, I've hardly touched it everything, so perhaps the ozone for months and have no idea when I'll business was a false alarm after all. actually get around to getting it redy (20.8.91) for press. I must own up to a serious loss of interest and enthusiasm, so I guess I'd better write a few letters HARRY ANDRUSCHAK - Address as above. to editors before finding I'm getting Received THE MENTOR #71 with no more fanzines. I notice I've what has now become the standard received a couple more issues of TM spectacular color cover. since #69, but I don't know when I'll ...John J Alderson. By his get round to reading them. standards, I am probably not educated. Great cover - in color! Can't I have read thousands of books, but say I'm very impressed by the many of them were science fiction, and typeface. That's the trouble with all that includes a huge number of space- this new computer technology. See the operas. And while I have read Plato, last MATALAN RAVE for a blatant Homer, the Bible, and the Qoran, I example of the inferiority of cannot say I enjoyed any of those 4. computerized printing. I typed up a Too turgid. Most of my reading few pages on my friend's computer, nowadays are science fact magazines whilst this typer was at the menders. and books. In fact, my next fanzine- I think I'll quite happily stick to in-progress has 4 book reviews of the old technology. science fact books. Ah, I'd love to dwell in the As for the Science Fiction Fan Blue Mountains - have wanted to do so Quiz, I enjoyed most of it, but found every since I was a kid. Why don't I?

THE MENTOR 72 page 60 ask you. Maybe I will one day, but was how I planned to travel over to not I'm here in Melbourne, it's no Western Australia to see the total longer economically feasible to pack eclipse of the Sun in June 1974 (see up and move yet again - in other my article TOTALLED, which you words, I'm too poor. But I don't published a few issues back). It's think too highly of some of the great shame that I couldn't go in the members of this Blue Mountains sf end. It would have been an group. I think the idea of interesting experience, just the trip assassinating doctors (everywhere or alone. But how on earth do you manage only in the Third World?) "so all the to remember so much detail after people (get) sick and (die)" really twenty years? I mean things like sick. This revulsion springs not from prices and distances. I have a very eny great love of doctors but from the poor memory of how much things used to notion that all the people need doctors cost before inflation all but wiped to keep them (us?) alive, from getting out our currency, and I have only the sick. What kind of attitude is that? vaguest idea of distances in Europe. I think the less we have to do with By Ockham's Razor I must conclude that doctors, the better. you kept a diary, or maybe wrote the Can't say I was greatly story out long ago, but in which case impressed by Margaret Pearce's story. why did you wait so long to publish Its strong point is that it sets up a it? mystery and keeps the reader gessing [Half the trip account was written and and therefore reading, but I get published in my ANZAPA mailing in 1970; the other irritated by such passages as: "The half was written for that issue of TM. I collect second satellite around Sirius had and keep tickets, receipts, etc from my trips and gravity, atmosphere..." Well of can later refer back to them. - Ron.] course it had gravity. Eny decent Enyway, before I go on (with my sized planet must have that. European trip account), I must plead Atmosphere and population are of with you, beg of you, not to play the course optional, but gravity is an dirty trick played on me by Nick inherent property of mass. How could Shears and George Bondar, that is, of a planet not have gravity? (Some vanishing into thin air, of answering scientific illiterates think that the me with a bolt of defening silence. Moon has no gravity.) And then I find Thank God you don't dwell in England, absurd the idea of the inhabitants of which may as well be Mars or the outer an alien planet being genetically reaches of the Milky Way, for all the compatible with humans. But then I good it does sending travel tales gess it would be uncharitable to go on thither. I did though get the same in this vein. After all, it is only response from Glen Crawford of Gosford fan fiction, or is that remark an after sending him a letter, but at insult? least that was only a slight tale of Marie-Louise Stephens SAUCE FOR juvenile memories of past cats... THE GOOSE let me down, in that it [Michael then goes on with his trip report. utterly lacks a climax. When the Because this issue of TM has my Volgacon report it in, I am saving Michael's report for a future heroine got her own robot as an attack issue. It is an interesting trip report, giving agenst her husband's Astrid, I felt first hand experience of Europe at the same the tale building up to a time I was travelling there. If you don't confrontation, for something to see it there, I'll return it to you. - Ron] happen. But insted nothing happens other than the end of the story. RICHARD BRANDT, 4740 N. Mesa #111, El Paso, Tx But what really moved me to write to you now was your BY FOOT AND 79912, USA. BUS THROUGH THE HINDUKUSH. Here at You certainly went for color in last is a real travel-tale from my own a big way with the cover for issue era! I've had grave misgivings about #69; the reproduction is outstanding, publishing tales of travels I did considering the delicacy of color and twenty or more years ago, especially the gradations of tint. The artwork as I find other travellers tales in itself is quite remarkable, sort of a fanzines rather unlike my own: they're Maxfield Parrish meets Hannes Bok. usually no more than a few years in Jozef Szekeres centrefold also the past and quick tours, and the main displays an excellent use of the reason for the trip enyway is some medium; the only discordant element is overseas con. But your tale brings in the interface between the Medusa back memories of what I did at the figure's face and that of her mount: same time, and I feel an irresistible the serpents' head is rendered in urge to compare notes with you here. sharp, clear lines contrasting with Travelling overland on an old the soft expressionistic outline of double-decker bus sounds like a lot of the woman's; and rendering the human fun. You may remember such a bus, tongue always seems to leave some called the "Magic Bus", that used to artists at a loss. do trips from Sydney (or maybe Peggy Ranson's illustration on Brisbane?) through Melbourne and page 35 shows more of a Beardsley Adelaide to Perth for just $45. That influence than I usually associate

THE MENTOR 72 page 61 with her style; likewise her piece on the more impressive his results are page 56. Peggy impresses me the more likely to be. I see her artwork; her Hugo nomination Sticking with issue 70, though, this year was a pleasant surprise David Tansey's HUMAN ERROR is an (even though I had voted for her!) amusing read, well-constructed without Early on in Margaret Pearce's telegraphing its point too early; the CREW WAITING, I was assailed with two ending is a bit discordant, since related thoughts: (1) that's a might we're not used to random shootings at unusual cloud of radiation, which can cons (although one writer swears he dissolve the "molecules" of anything autographed a book for an admiring metal, (2) that poor crew, what will reader a week before she showed up they do without any of the trace halfway across the country and opened elements necessary for continued fire on a schoolroom). RUMINATIONS existence, not to mention hemoglobin? offers the fascination of leafing Margaret's rationale for these seeming through old convention programme improbabilities, once they were books... although not much more than related, failed to persuade me. The that; more details would have been revelation of the cloud's true nature nice, although at that distance whose means that, among other things, the memory can call up too many more? The crew's experimentation must have been Jenssen quote and the early reactions extremely unsophisticated, and that to 2001 were highlights, but the whole the gravitational pull the planet piece is a valuable summary of a time exerts on its subjects must be and place in fan history. Margaret virtually nil, if what amounts to Pearce has another piece of alternate dandruff flaking off the domes winds biology in BOIL THE WATER, nothing up in orbit around their sun. It's a exactly new in its overall theme, but pity, because some of her biological intriguing in its specifics. The inventions are rather interesting. sentence early on in which the word The report of your bus trip "process" is used twice in close from Sydney to Gosport is indeed succession ranks among the issue's sense-of-wondrous - such an epic greater stylistic infelicities, travail! Although the most remarkable though. part to me might be the description of Peter Brodie's list of John Brosnan's flat. It seemed to me innovations from FORBIDDEN PLANET that your descriptions were more makes it clear how much Gene detailed in the latter part of the Roddenberry borrowed from that film account, so that I enjoyed them the when he developed STAR TREK. (One more. (Maybe because arriving in Brodie doesn't list is the "law" Britain brought you back into touch preventing the robot from harming with reality, i.e., fandom.) humans!) It also demonstrates how I think the artist Mae Strelkov genuinely sophisticated the film's is trying to recall (whose style script was, compared to the typical sf seemed to her to be similar to movie of the time and allowing for the Jozef's) was Stephen Fabian. The name Fifties Hollywood frame of mind. that kept cropping into her head might The comments in recent issues on have been Brad Foster, who's a more "professionalism" regarding the recent arrival; unless she was in fact Ditmars is roughly similar to the thinking of Tom Foster, who hasn't controversy that raged (mostly in been in fanzines for a while, but just America) over the Fanzine Hugo did a comic book with Ken Fletcher. category at the time that once-humble (I just saw Dan Steffan's name in an fanzines began paying staffs, Associated Press clipping; seems he's accepting advertising, and, more to one of the contributors to the first the point, building huge circulations issue of Grateful Dead Comics.) and dwarfing the smaller traditional Mark McLeod's folio shows him amateur publications in the voting equally adept at black-and-white work, tallies. We speak primarily of LOCUS, although most of the pieces look like which started life as a fannish preliminary sketches when compared to newszine and evolved over the years the last three, where the impression into a slick trade publication for the of detail and verisimilitude is SF field. The WSFS Business Meeting surprising. (The last is certainly finally adopted more stringent rules the oddest still life I've seen in for what could be eligible as some time.) His explanation for the "Fanzines" - but, so Charlie Brown background might explain why some of could still get "his" Hugo every year, his work has something of a fey created a separate category, quality. His cover for THE MENTOR 70 "Semiprozine", for those publications again has that striking sense of which are too professional to be photographic realism... your magazine ranked with amateurs, but don't have starts to look more like NATIONAL large enough a circulation to contend GEOGRAPHIC every day... while his with the prozines. Of course, LOCUS cover for issue 71 demonstrates that has won the Semiprozine award evry the more abstract his subject matter, year since it was instituted, to the extent that this year's Worldcon gave

THE MENTOR 72 page 62 a special award to Andy Porter to Maria-Louise Stephens' recognize his efforts in publishing CASSIOPEIA B is intriguing enough, but SCIENCE FICTION CHRONICLE, a perennial I wonder about its message; is the also-ran. (This wasn't quite as heroine really being recruited to embarrassing as Denver's decision in breed and die? 1981 to give Ed Ferman a special award I enjoyed Buck's column on for editing F&SF, since he had never officiating at weddings. When I was won the Best Professional Editor award contemplating marriage at one time, my - then he finally won his first at the intended and I discussed having the same convention.) Rumor has it ceremony performed by a friend who was Charlie has intentionally restricted a Universal Life Church minister - she LOCUS's distribution so it won't lose had been ordained as part of a its "semipro" eligibility. newspaper series she did on strange Glen Chapman may be right about things you can get through the mail - the av ailability of obscure sci-fi but I argued that no real friend would films in Australia, but in the States, agree to do such a thing to you. the explosion in video distribution A CHANGE OF HEART by Shane Dix - means even rarities like PROJECT now this is what I call a good SF MOONBASE are on the market - I've even story. To me it gets at the heart of seen it on cable television now. what SF is about - a technological Glen's probably right about the advance and what uses people will make traditional situation for fantasy of it. films. GHOST, a romantic supernatural P.J. Roberts THE CRYSTAL OUT OF thriller, was last year's top-grossing SPACE - it's fairly clear from early film, but is more the exception than on what is happening, but Roberts the rule; I don't think THE WITCHES keeps the mechanism of exactly how and EDWARD SCISSORHANDS made quite it's happening a mystery long enough such an impact, but I doubt they were to keep the pages turning. The outright money-losers either. It solution is not nearly as convincing remains to be seen whether the trend as I'd like, although Roberts will reverse itself. I'd expect a lot certainly takes a cosmic approach to of movie ripping-off the same concept the subject. One note on style: in an attempt to cash in on GHOST's Roberts tries a couple of times to success; if their quality is as cram more adjective phrases into a mediocre as expected, producers would sentence than is good for it... no doubt judge their failure justifies Cute quiz from Rachel and Claire the opinion of fantasy as poor box- - although modesty (and decency) office, and the cycle would continue. prevent me from disclosing my score - That's some duplicator you have disturbing signs of fannishness there. Dick and Leah Smith arranged cropping up in your zine, there, guys. for a Gestetner sales rep to (-.9.91) demonstrate a similar model at their Ditto in Chicago, and we were all much JOHN J. ALDERSON, Canakkale, Turkey. boggled. I haven't received any MENTORs Grai Hughes' THE LAST HOPE is for months, but I don't blame you. My certainly ambitious (not to say agent hasn't even sent the gas-bill. pretentious). It carried a Jack Vance A few days back I got out of flavor of decadence and extravagant Iran and stayed at Dogabeyagst. I language, with only occasional lapses went out to see "Noah's Ark". It is a in clarity. It impresses, more than fantastic thing. Some decades ago, any other of its qualities, with the during an earthquake, which left fact that it has a genuine furrows four metres high, it floated philosophical point to make. to the surface in one huge, The production values for THE homogeneous and unbroken body. It's MENTOR 71 are a pleasant surprise - a composition is different from very professional-looking product, anything surrounding it. Parts have much in keeping with your covers and high and definite walls (viewed from artwork. Did you get the same number the inside), and what one takes to be of words into this somewhat-slenderer the forefront confirms to the issue? Sorry to hear there won't be dimensions given for the ark in any more color covers (I guess that Genesis, providing the Gre at Cubit means you won't be paying (about half a metre contributors, as Buck suggests), but instead of eighteen inches) was the perhaps another opportunity for such one used. It is huge. will come your way someday. I keep an open mind until (I don't pay contributors because I can't competent archaeologists have had a afford to. Even $5 or $10 - would soon add up to dig. But I do have to side with the more than I could afford - then I would also have man who said, "I know a boat when I to pay the artists... The only reason I said I would not be publishing any colour covers is the see it." It just leaves that price - I have several artists offering some of impression. (7.10.91). their best work in colour - so maybe... - Ron.]

THE MENTOR 72 page 63

THE MENTOR 72 page 64

THE QUEEN OF SPRINGTIME by Robert Silverberg. trains of events came together. A Legend pb, dist in Aust by Random Century. (C) unique novel. 1989. 519pp. A$12.95. On sale now. WRITERS OF THE FUTURE IV, edited by Algis Budrys. This is the sequel to AT New Era pb, dist in Aust by N.E. Pubs. (C) 1988. WINTER'S END, and continues the tale 425pp. A$12.95. On sale now. of the Chronicler Hresh in the city he The L. RON HUBBARD Presents had helped found. The insect-like anthologies is continuing, with this, hjjks, one of the few left-over races the fourth volume, currently on of being from the Great World of aeons release. There are sixteen short past, were pushing into the civilized stories illustrated by sixteen parts of the world. This was not more different artists. evident that when they sent an The stories are: RIVER OF STONE emissary, in the form of one of the by Michael Green; THE MIRROR by Nancy People, to try to persuade them to Farmer; THE ZOMBIE CORPS: NINE-LIVES sign a treaty that would cut off most CHARLIE by Rayson Lorrey; HIGH FAST of the world to the inquisitive FISH by John Moore; A WINTER'S NIGHT monkey-descended people. by P.H. MacEwan; THE TROUBLESOME This series looks as though it KORDAE ALLIANCE AND HOW IT WAS SETTLED will evolve into something that will by Flonet Biltgen; GROWLERS by Larry keep Silverberg in the reading England; WHAT DO I SEE IN YOU? by Mary public's eye. It is a good read, but Turzillo; THE GAS MAN by Richard doesn't seem to have that spark that Undiales; THE FRUIT PICKER by Jo would make it a classic. Well thought Beverley; BLACK SUN AND DARK COMPANION out and crafted, though. by R. Garcia y Robertson; 6770: THE CAUSE by Mark Haw; MOTHER'S DAY by THE JONAH KIT by Ian Watson. VGSF pb, dist in Aust Astrid Julian; BUFFALO DREAMS by June by Houghton Mifflin. (c) 1975. 221pp. A$11.95. Mailander; HEROIC MEASURES by Paul On sale now. Edwards and OLD TIMES THERE by Dannis About the only sign that this Minor. book was written in 1975 was the There are also some short mention of hippies, otherwise it has articles by Algis Budrys, Orson Scott held its age very well. Card, Tim Powers, Ramsey Campbell and That the theories of scientists Frank Kelly Freas. The stories are by does impinge on the "real" world is new authors and for a new anthology shown in this novel, when a radio- are worth the effort reading. telescope reaches the end of the universe and, upon the publishing of a THE GATES OF THORBARDIN by Dan Parkinson. Penguin well-documented theory, it is shown pb, dist in Aust by Penguin Books. (C) 1990. that this universe is but a shadow of 310pp. A$10.95. On sale now. the real one, which disappeared up a Volume II of Heroes II. The black hole very shortly after being backcover blurb says: "...Dan created. That universe is the one that Parkinson...continues the history of God created and planned and He is the dwarves of Krynn in the tradition there. And not here. of Nancy Varian Berberick's best- Naturally the peoples of the selling DRAGONLANCE novel, Stormblade. earth weren't really happy about this, It is too bad that sales blah stands and many proceeded to riot. Another in the way of an author's novel. experiment was being conducted at the This book tells of the same time by the Russian - they were adventures of Chane Feldstone as he imprinting the brains of a child and a seeks the helm of the son of King whale with the mathematical patterns Duncan (of Macbeth fame?) which has of an adult and it was only later in some prophecies attached. The novel the novel that these two different is thus a Quest novel and the jaded

THE MENTOR 72 page 65 fantasy reader may think that he or ends up a little more complicated than she has all the basic ingredients most. thought out. He or she is probably When a mysterious plaque is right. Still, this adventure, though found on Mars with inscriptions that straight forward, is straightforward no-one can decipher it created some reading for the younger fans amongst excitement, though not so much us. Including my 13 year old son. excitement as when it was stolen. Two people were murdered also and when NIGHTFALL by Isaac Asimov & Robert Silverberg. Pan Sparta was brought in to investigate pb, dist in Aust by Pan Books. (C) 1990. 352pp. she found that the people behind the A$12.95. On sale now. theft were not loathe to do her in This novel is the expansion of also. At one stage she found herself Asimov's classic short story, stranded in the Martian desert on NIGHTFALL. Some novels that are board a downed Mars aircraft that was expanded from short stories lose in slightly worse shape than herself. something - that sense of imminence. Nice solid nuts and bolts sf. I don't know if there are any sf readers around who haven't read the USE OF WEAPONS by Ian M. Banks. Orbit pb, dist in short story - of the night of the Aust by Hodder & Stoughton. (C) 1990..368pp. planet that has six suns and which, Trade pb, A$17.95, h/c $32.95. On sale now. every 2049 years, five of the suns are I haven't read Banks' other below the horizon and the sixth sun is novels - CONSIDER PHLEBAS or THE eclipsed. Madness and terror stalk PLAYER OF GAMES, but if they are as the land and the morning reveals a good as USE OF WEAPONS I certainly devastated landscape. will be on the look-out for them. Both authors have done a good This novel is about the Culture; job with this one - the writing is galactic organisation that is bent on tight and smooth and I couldn't put bringing the benefits of its the book down up till the point when civilisation to others. It is doing Darkness actually fell. After than it what it considers best for other was kind of an anti-climax, but there cultures. It is a primarily human was new material which enhanced the Culture, although there are aliens plot, rather than it being padding. involved. The protagonist of the Well worth purchasing. novel is a military man, who the Culture uses to further its gains. He TOOTH AND CLAW by James Silke. Grafton pb, dist in works for it and knows it. He Aust by Collins/A&R. (C) 1989. 316pp. A$10.95. realises that they are using him - On sale now. sometimes, on the planet he is sent TOOTH AND CLAW is Book 3 in to, he is on their side, sometimes he Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer series. is working for those against whom the The two previous novels being PRISONER Culture is leading - the Culture works OF THE HORNED HELMET and LORDS OF in strange ways. The military DESTRUCTION. writings are believable (at least to The plot is not quite that of a this reader), and the whole novel is Quest - it is more a Swords and Blood interesting - it is written on several adventure, with a small band of levels. * Recommended *. individuals who are travelling together in an attempt to find the THE BLOOD OF ROSES by Tanith Lee. Legend pb, dist Queen of Cats. They fight their way in Aust by Random Century. (C) 1990. 678pp. through many battles with creatures A$12.95. On sale now. both human, degenerates and animals. Not an sf novel this time, but The action is quick and fierce and one of horror and vampires. just the thing to get one's blood Tanith Lee is good at her craft boiling, I'm sure. and she is well known in her field. The writing and the plot In THE BLOOD OF ROSES she mixes a tale actually reminds me of the pulp of early middle ages Christendom with magazines of the 1940s - it's that the age of tales of evil from beyond kind of adventure. The novel ends on the grave. The young woman who is a note of hope - the "hero" now has hounded by the priests and nobles, some kind of goal in his life. and the magic that breaks out (the magic that was alive in the Middle HIDE AND SEEK by Paul Preuss. Pan pb, dist in Aust Ages for most people then living. by Pan Books. (C) 1991. 274pp. A$11.95. On sale At 678 pages this is a good long now. read for those lovers of horror. This Paul Preuss's third book using is not so much blood and gore horror Arthur C. Clarke's Venus Prime as a as is found in the latest movies. base. The first two novels were There is blood and gore, but it is BREAKING STRAIN and MAELSTROM, which worked into the scheme of things and were reviewed in a previous issue of looks not out of place. A good read this magazine. HIDE AND SEEK for those long train or 'plane continues the adventures of Sparta, journeys. the augmented human female who's life

THE MENTOR 72 page 66 FAERY LANDS FORLORN by Dave Duncan. Del Rey pb, running out. It is a real problem for dist in Aust by Random Century. (C) 1991. 335pp. Skeeve, since his magic has gone up On sale now. his sleeve, so to speak, and his Part 2 of A Man And His Word. finding of two werewolfs and a hatch Part 1 was MAGIC CASEMENT, which I of vampires doesn't really help haven't read as yet. things. Though only a short book at This is a quest fantasy, with 171 small pages, this is just the the maiden a lost (or actually right size to slip into one's pocket kidnapped) Princess, and the hero a for that quick dip while in the stable-boy named Rap. When she had waiting room of a doctor or dentist. been kidnapped he had leaped through the magic window after her, but TAROT TALES, edited by Rachel Pollack and Caitlin unfortunately the mechanics of magic Matthews. (C) 1989. 303pp. A$12.95. On sale now. transport had landed him a great The two editors of this volume distance away from his goal. She are versed somewhat in the use of the didn't know a loyal subject was after Tarot cards. They asked a group of her . There is much sea voyaging and fiction writes to write stories that running around with dwarves and Tarot cards had to be involved in the goblins, as any fantasy story of these creation of the tale. old days will have. The stories are varied and The print is small, so you are diverse. They are: THE LOVERS by getting a lot of reading for your Gwyneth Jones; REMBRANDTS FO THINGS money. This is the first time I've PAST by Sheila Finch; THE HORSE OF seen a major publisher in Australia IRON ETC by M John Harrison; THE distributing Del Rey - hopefully we'll GODDESS OF THE LAND by Caitlin see some of their sf soon. This one Matthews; THE SHIP OF NIGHT by Cherry is for fantasy readers. Gilchrist; THE PERSISTENCE OF FALSE MEMORY by Robert Irwin; AS IT FLOWS THE SORCERESS AND THE SIGNET by Patricia A. TO THE SEA... by Storm Constantine; McKillip. Pan h/c,, dist in Aust by Pan books. HANGING THE FOOL by Michael Moorcock; (C) 1990. 219pp. A$29.95. On sale now. THE EMIGRATION by Josephine Saxon; This is a well produced volume - CAVE PIRATES OF THE HOLLOW EARTH by the cover illustration is finely Peter Wilson; THE TENTH MUSE by John executed and the paper and printing Matthews; THE WIND BOX by Scott first class. Bradfield; SNAKE DREAMS by Garry Patricia McKillip wrote The Kilworth; FALSE PROPHECY by Jacqueline Riddle Masters of Hed trilogy. THE Lichtenberg; THE DEVIL'S PICTUREBOOK SORCERESS AND THE SIGNET is well told by R J Stewart and KNOWER OF BIRDS by and the writing is clear and concise, Rachel Pollack. All in all quite a which has a lot more going for it that different collection - some fantasy some of the latest fantasy I've read. and some sf. The adventures take place beyond the tinker's door, in a place that was as AGAINST THE FALL OF NIGHT by Arthur C. Clarke & magical as the road beyond the stars BEYOND THE FALL OF NIGHT by Gregory Benford. and was another world that Corleu had Gollancz h/c, dist in Aust by Houghton Mifflin. to explore and eventually come back (C) 1990. 239pp. A$38.95. On sale now. from. This is a strange volume, in As I said above, there is that AGAINST FALL OF NIGHT is a fantasy and there is fantasy. The reprint of Arthur C. Clarke's classic, authoress has taken her time with this whose first thoughts about it were book and it shows in the careful way from 1936, and Greg Benford's sequel, in which the writing flows. This BEYOND THE FALL OF NIGHT. I don't helps in the suspension of disbelief have to say anything about the Clarke which is a prerequisite for a good novel except to say that it hasn't fantasy. lost anything in the nearly fifty years since it was first published. MYTH-ING PERSONS by Robert Asprin. Legend pb, dist It still brings on that Sense of in Aust by Random Century. (c) 1984. 172pp. Wonder. The Benford is well written A$9.95. On sale now. and uses some of the characters from Robert Asprin was writing the Clarke piece, but it doesn't have humorous fantasy and having it that flowing style that Clarke has. published well before Terry Pratchett I've read parts of it elsewhere and came bursting on the scene. Asprin's think that it does have some grand series were the "Myth..." series - visions, and it is as good a sequel to MYTHCONCEPTIONS are ANOTHER FINE MYTH AGAINST... for another author than are two that I've read. First Clarke to have written as could be published by the Donning Co in the found. USA, this is one of the series that Definitely a book for your made that Company sparkle for a short "keep" section of your time. library/collection. In this latest release in Australian, Skeeve's mate Aahz is in jail for murder and his time is fast

THE MENTOR 72 page 67 MIND OF MY MIND by Octavia Butler. VGSF pb, dist Cook creates good fantasy with in Aust by Collins/A&R. (C) 1977. 221pp. A$12. that aura of authenticity and the On sale now. actions of the characters are MIND OF MY MIND is the sequel to believable, in most of what they do - WILD SEED, which was reviewed in TM the reader doesn't have to suspend 70, to which I gave a *Recommended*. disbelief as much as some other This commences when the first fantasy writers require. Aaron is a novel finishes. One of Doro's retired soldier who now has a wife and offspring, Mary, is a telepath who has a child, but he never though he would the additional power of linking her be helping his old enemies - if only mind to other telepaths and to stop child kidnappers in their controlling them. All Doro's activities. offspring are notoriously hard to live The action is fast and the plot with and the telepaths are also. Mary is well thought out - absorbing finds that those linked in her fantasy fiction. "Pattern" find it easier to live together and also their powers are I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC! by Ray Bradbury. Grafton enhanced and more easily directed. pb, dist in Aust by Collins/A&R. (C) 1948-1977. She begins to guide other latent 331pp. A$10.95. On sale now. espers through their "Transition" to A re-issue of a classic their full potential. Soon she has collection of Ray Bradbury's short fifteen hundred espers and 500 of stories. The stories are: THE their children. Doro becomes alarmed KILIMANJARO DEVICE; THE TERRIBLE and keeps an eye on her growing CONFLAGRATION UP AT THE PLACE; powers. Bulter has created a two TOMORROW'S CHILD; THE WOMEN; THE novel series that gives a view of an INSPIRED CHICKEN MOTEL; DOWNWIND FROM esper society that could be true to GETTYSBURG; YES, WE'LL GATHER AT THE life. Get this. RIVER; THE COLD WIND AND THE WARM; NIGHT CALL, COLLECT; THE HAUNTING OF PAGASUS IN FLIGHT by Anne McCaffrey. Bantam h/c, THE NEW; I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC!; dist in Aust by Transworld Publishers. (C) 1991. THE TOMBING DAY; ANY FRIEND OF 317pp. A$29.95. On sale now. NICHOLAS NICKLEBY'S A FRIEND OF MINE; Anne McCaffrey is turning out HEAVY-SET; THE MAN IN THE RORSCHACH novels with the best of them. PEGASUS SHIRT; HENRY THE NINTH; THE LOST CITY IN FLIGHT is the latest in a new OF MARS and CHRISTUS APOLLO. series that began with the Rowan. The stories are a mixture of PEGASUS... is set earlier than fantasy and SF, as are most of the latter novel, taking place on Bradbury's stories - and even the SF Earth when those with Talents (espers) stories have that ghost of fantasy in are just discovering the abilities of them. Bradbury was writing and some to move large masses with the setting when he was twenty years old help of electricity from generators. to WEIRD TALES - and this collection The plot is well told and the author has a good selection of his stories. has created some memorable characters, Bradbury had the reputation in though the heroine is one with that the fifties of being the poet of SF - white streak in her hair which brands he hasn't written anything lately that her as someone special. has caught the SF reading public's There are various sub-plots attention. If you want to see what he going - one is the search for the was like you must obtain books like kidnappers of children for nefarious this one. purposes; another is the building of a space-station to ensure a lift-off THE REVENGE OF THE ROSE by Michael Moorcock. point for starships and yet another is Grafton h/c, dist in Aust by Collins/A&R. (C) the quelling of rioting citizens and 1991. 233pp. A$32.5. On sale now. some illegal children. A lot of the This volume joins eight other sub-plots are actually tied together novels about Elric, the albino that and, as with her other novels, things has fought his way across world and are tied up nicely at the end. countless pages into the reader's memory. THE TOWER OF FEAR by Glen Cook. Grafton pb, dist Elric is still journeying - this in Aust by Collins/A&R. (C) 1991. 375pp. time he is questing for the soul of A$10.95. On sale now. his father, which is lost in the A story about the city of worlds of the multiverse. He Qushmarrah, which from olden times had encounters the mysterious woman Rose, always had problems with outside who like the other women he meets in forces attacking them. The city had his journeys is unlike most mortals. always managed to fight them off, but Rose is a survivor and is the last of when the old evil wizard had been her kind. She too is searching and surprised in his fortress and had, in they both briefly join forces to try the midst of being attacked by one as to win through to their different strong as himself, been frozen by his goals. Elric must struggle against witch mate, the outside forces managed the various evil machinations of evil to break in and took over the city. that lurk along his path, and the

THE MENTOR 72 page 68 sword Stormbringer has its thirst CHILDREN; WHAT WILL WE DO TOMORROW?; slaked many times in the journey. WORTHING FARM; WORTHING INN and THE If you haven't read any Elric TINKER. Reading this volume and MAPS tales, and you like fantasy, then you IN A MIRROR, the reader can see that will find Moorcock is a master of the the author brings a slightly different craft. background flavour to his work. It is not until the reader reads the BAREFOOT IN THE HEAD by Brian Aldiss. VGSF pb, author's comments do they realise that dist in Aust by Houghton Mifflin. (C) 1969. Card is a Latter Day Saint. Though it A$10.95. On sale now. does lend his works a different tint, Pieces of this novel were there is no overwhelming sense that published in the English SF magazine Card is beating the reader over the NEW WORLDS when Michael Moorcock was head with his "message". Indeed, I the editor - which dates it to the New think that his religious background Wave era. has given his works something that The whole novel is written in most sf authors lack - that feeling stream-of-consciousness and needs for religion or the religious careful interpretation if one is to atmosphere that some of the best sf follow any of it at all. If you lived authors, Arthur C. Clarke especially, through them, or are a student of can give their best works. them, or would like to obtain an overview of the 1960's, then you will GETTING STARTED WITH MICROSOFT WORD 5.5 by Janet find a reading of this novel worth Rampa. Microsoft Press, dist in Aust by Penguin your while. If you are not, but like Books. (C) 1991, 399pp. A$40. Aldiss, then you will find BAREFOOT IN Why am I reviewing this book THE HEAD to be a condensation of all when I use Word For Windows? Simple his experimental works. Possibly more - using a mouse takes time; with the Ballard-like than Ballard. quick keys listed and explained in I can't say I like it much - this volume I don't have to leave the there is no plot as such and the keyboard - and the commands are the reader may find that, after wading same. through the gunshot prose and the The book itself is well jerky poetry, that the whole thing is presented and the contents clearly a bit overblown. defined and explained. there are MAPS IN A MIRROR by Orson Scott Card. Legend simple illustrations of the menus and trade pb, dist in Aust by Random Century. (C) the text itself is clear and 1990. 675pp. A$19.95. On sale now. uncluttered. Rampa's style is clear Needless to say, it took me the and easy to follow. If any of TM's better part of a week to read through readers are contemplating getting a this volume. This book has included good word processor and haven't the in it forty-six stories by Card, and memory for using Windows, then Word it noted on the cover - and 5.5 is a good choice. It is used, of justifiably so - as "A Definitive course, on IBM's or clones of such. Collection Of Short Fiction". As mentioned above, the text is I won't list the stories uncluttered - some Getting Started whereunto, if I do it's take about books try to pack too much in and use half a page of this issue. The a small font size to do so. After stories are mainly sf and fantasy, reading several chapters of this the which "dark" fantasy taking its place reader is left with straining eyes and herein. The majority of the stories a stuffy head. No so with this book. are first class, and the early ones If you want an easy guide to Word 5.5, still show what Card would be able to or like me, want quick keys for Word do years later. The volume includes For Windows, then this book is a good the short fiction he expanded into buy. novels: ENDER'S GAME; MIKAL'S SONGBIRD and PRENTICE ALVIN AND THE NO-GOOD DRUID OF SHANNARA by Terry Brooks. Orbit trade pb, PLOW . There are also Introductions dist in Aust by Penguin Books. (C) 1991, 423pp. to each section and at the end of each A$17.95. On sale now. section there is are notes on how he The sequel to SCIONS OF wrote the stories. SHANNARA, reviewed in TM 68. The *Recommended* - well worth three Scions have been given three getting for your collection. quests to fulfil. The first, that of Par, is told of in the first novel. THE WORTHING SAGA by Orson Scott Card. Legend This second quest is undertaken by trade pb, dist in Aust by Random Century. (C) Walker Boh, who's task is to find the 1978-89. 396pp. A$17.95. On sale now. city of Paranor and put the together THE WORTHING SAGA is a re-write the Order of Druids. of that older novel. It takes up 230 Brooks has a good grasp of pages of the present volume and helps story-telling technique and his style tie it together. is smooth. The plot is not too The other stories included are: complicated and the word scenes are SKIPPING STONES; SECOND CHANCE; easy to follow. At 423 pages the LIFELOOP; BREAKING THE GAME; KILLING fantasy reader has the chance of a

THE MENTOR 72 page 69 good long read and will find that this Galaxy, Thrawn, one of the Empire's volume makes up a good weekend's old commanders is consolidating his reading. If you like the first territory and scheming of ways to win volume, this second one is worth back portions of Alliance space. chasing up. Zahn has caught the atmosphere The cover illustration is very of the movies well - I can almost see well executed - unfortunately the the fourth movie following this plot. artist is not credited. He writes smoothly and the reader will no doubt find that the other two NEVER DEAL WITH A DRAGON by Robert Charrette. RoC volumes are also worth reading. pb, dist in Aust by Penguin Books. (C) 1990. 377pp. A$10.95. On sale now. RANDOM FACTOR by Joel Henry Sherman. Del Rey pb., This volume is volume 1 of dist in Aust by Random Century. (C) 1991. 329pp. Secrets of Power and is a Shadowrun A$9.95. On sale now. title. The Copyright is owned by a When I first saw the cover of company, the FASA corp, which is this novel, I thought that is was a apparently something like TSR. typical space opera, with nothing much The novel has magic and ancient to recommend it. I was wrong. I will beings incorporated in it, though it say, though, that the blurb on the takes place in 2050. The ancient cover is completely wrong, also. beings are elves, orks, mages and Casey Rourke was a human that dragons, who came out of the woodwork both good and bad luck follow each to fight against the machines and other. Usually it was bad luck that other creations of men. It is really a came first. When he burst into the mixture - one of the female characters bedroom of an Ambassador after hearing checks "astrally" on one of the male screams he found, instead of a murder characters medical condition. The being committed, the Ambassador was majority of the action takes place in under the tender administrations of the USA and the characters use much the local branch of the girly guild. 1980 slang, or such closely derived He was given the choice of being from it. thrown in jail or taking on the job of It is a strange mixture and I'm Factor at an orbiting station above a not sure it will work for the devoted world that exported a brand of musk fantasy or D&D fan. Should be that was worth much to the aliens interesting to see. harvesting it. Unfortunately that area was about to become a battlefield VIPERHAND by Douglas Niles. Penguin pb, dist in between the Human Alliance and the Aust by Penguin Books. (C) 1990. 311pp. A$10.95. Oolaanian Unity, and neither he nor On sale now. the alien Col on the world below were Now, this is a TSR book. It is prepared. Very good space opera. Volume 2 of the Maztica Trilogy. The story carries on the plot of THE DESTINY OF THE SWORD by Dave Duncan. Legend Volume 1 - in this continuation, Erix pb,, dist in Aust by Random Century. (C) 1988. and her lover, Halloran are fleeing 338pp. A$10.95. On sale now. Maztica. The country is going under The second volume in The Seventh and they only just escape with their Sword series; the first being reviewed lives. They are pursued by previously. legionnaires and several times are THE DESTINY OF THE SWORD is, of captured buy manage to escape. course, part of a fantasy series and Niles writes with a sure hand like much of these it is easy to read for this type of fantasy and using and does not tax the imagination. short paragraphs throughout, ensures Wallie Smith was resurrected in the that the young reader is able to body of Shonsu, a swordsman of some follow the action easily. It is skill. The Goddess that re-created obvious that these series are aimed at him gave him the goal of destroying that young reader. the evil sorcerers and the God they worshipped. To give the reader some HEIR TO THE EMPIRE by Timothy Zahn. Bantam h/c, idea of the book, here are the titles dist in Aust by Transworld Publishers. (C) 1991. of the chapters: A Tryst Has Been 361pp. A$24.95. On sale now. Called; How The Swordsman Wept; How Well, here it is, Volume 1 of a The Swordsmen Met His Match; How The three volume series, set after the Best Sword Won; How The Swordsman Took events of the three Star Wars movies. Command; How The Swordsman Returned Just for that it will be a big The Sword and The Last Miracle. success. Actually it isn't as bad as it The time is five years after the sounds - it would make a good read for second Death Star and the Alliance is a young reader just getting into on the long road back to rule. The fantasy. By a young reader I means Empire now only holds a quarter of the one in their pre-teens or early teens, territory it originally held under the and who hasn't read much fantasy. If Emperor. Han and Leia are married and they have read comics, or role playing Luke is settling into the role of Jedi games they may find this to their knight. In another corner of the liking.

THE MENTOR 72 page 70 dwelling place of the Dark Elves who TALTOS AND THE PATHS OF THE DEAD by Steven Brust. were an ancient and fearful race that Pan pb, dist in Aust by Pan Books. (C) 1988. didn't like trespassers. 181pp. A$9.91. On sale September. There is quite a bit of writing The sequel to TALTOS THE in these 306 pages as the typeface is ASSASSIN. small. There are all the ingredients Quite a short tale, though some of a fantasy novel - gnomes, elves, of it is obviously written tongue-in- grubbers, illithids, clackers and cheek, as is obvious from the other strange animals and creations of following from page 123: "She tried to the Dark. strike with her dagger for his Salvatore has written other stomach, but he slipped around the Forgotten Reams (TSR) books and for blow and, pushing her off balance with those fans, here is another. his sword, struck her soundly in the chest with his dagger. She bled. A TIME OF EXILE by Katharine Kerr. Grafton h/c, Morrolan stepped back and saluted." dist in Aust by Collins/A&R. (C) 1991. 341pp. Taltos decided to tread the A$32.95. On sale September. Paths of the Dead and bring back a Katharine Kerr has mined deeply vial containing the essence of a the Deverry and its peoples. A TIME goddess. Whether he succeeds is up to OF EXILE is the latest novel to branch the reader to find out. out from the central trunk. It is Brust has a free of easy reading Book One of the Westlands Cycle - it style which makes reading a real explores the history of the Elcyion pleasure. The plot is simple and the Lacar, the elves who live west of younger fantasy fans will find the Deverry. novel no hardship. An comfortable TIME... follows the adventures read for those eight and up. of Rhodry as he, after hiding his tracks, sets out with a newly re- THE FOLK ON THE FRINGE by Orson Scott Card. Legend discovered Jill and Aderyn to find the pb, dist in Aust by Random Century. (C) 1990. boundaries of his fate with the elves. 301pp incl. Postscript. A$10.95. On sale now. The characters have vaguely Welsh The making of this series of sounding names as in her other novels novelettes that makes up a novel was and the writing is again flowing and told in MAPS IN A MIRROR. The stories easy to read. Unlike much other included are WEST; SALVAGE; THE fantasy, there is quite a lot of FRINGE; PAGEANT WAGON and AMERICA. speech and exchanging information by There is also an Author's Note and an that method, as against the author afterword by MIchael Collins. What speaking as God and imparting the Author's Note reminds me of are knowledge by that method. There is those that Piers Anthony appends to even a photograph of Ms Kerr on the his novels. They say much the same endpiece of the dust-jacket. Smoothly things. told fantasy. To get back to the stories - they tell of a world devastated by a THE COLOUR OF EVIL ed by David Hartwell. Grafton nuclear exchange. America is a pb, dist in Aust by Collins/A&R. 491pp. A$11.95. smashed land. The stories tell of how On sale now. the remaining Mormans, still believing A horror anthology that has all that America is the Promised Land, try the ingredients of a must for the to make their way to Salt Lake City to library. The stories included are; help rebuild. The various stories THE REACH by Stephen King; EVENING tell of this. The last story, PRIMROSE by John Collier; THE ASH-TREE America, describes how in the end, it by M.R. James; THE NEW MOTHER by Lucy is the Mormans who are the last Clifford; THERE'S A LONG, LONG TRAIL outpost of Europeans in North America A-WINDING by Russell Kirk; THE CALL OF and they make a treaty with the "real" CTHULHU by H.P. Lovecraft; THE SUMMER Americans - the Indians. Their being PEOPLE by Shirley Jackson; THE WHIMPER their fifty or so thousand years gives OF WHIPPED DOGS by Harlan Ellison; them prior claim. A "one-off" book at YOUNG GOODMAN BROW by Nathaniel least for this reader. Hawthorne; MR JUSTICE HARBOTTLE by J. Sheridan Le Fanu; THE CROWD by Ray EXILE by R. A. Salvatore. Penguin pb, dist in Aust Bradbury; THE AUTOPSY by Michael Shea; by Penguin Books. (C) 1990. 306pp. A$10.95. On JOHN CHARRINGTON'S WEDDING by E. sale now. Nesbit; STICKS by Earl Edward Wagner; EXILE is Book 2 of The Dark Elf LARGER THAN ONESELF by Robert Aickman; Trilogy, the first book being BELSEN EXPRESS by Fritz Leiber; YOURS HOMELAND. TRULY, JACK THE RIPPER by Robert Drizzt Do'Urden had a magic Bloch; IF DAMON COMES by Charles L. companion in the way of a cat - when Grant and VANDY, VANDY by Manly Wade fighting came along his panther shape Wellman. proved a godsend. The two were exiled As you can see, quite a from their home and had been forced to collection. Just the book to give to go into the Underdark in search of someone who is showing the glimmerings sanctuary. The Underdark was the

THE MENTOR 72 page 71 of liking horror or fantasy in order some of the food for the millions left to hook them. in the USA is grown - the remainder of the food is harvested from the sea. THE FALL OF HYPERION by Dan Simmons. Headline Victor finds that, along with an trade p/b, dist in Aust by Hodder & Stoughton. (C) automated robot crew, there are some 1990. 468pp. A$19.95 (h/c A$34.95). On sale now. 200 "hobos" living on Heaven who are This book is another sequel, but eking out their existence stealing this time it is a sequel to a Hugo small amounts of food from the growing Award winner, HYPERION. I haven't rows of crops. His brother has taken read the original novel, but I presume over the small community, but has it is at least as good a this novel larger plans for the larger community is. five miles under their feet. There On Hyperion the Time Tombs are are some discrepancies that haven't opening and the small band of pilgrims been excised - all the citizens are being decimated by the Shrike as smoking, for one - but overall an it carried off or kills them one by entertaining volume. one. The AIs in the Core are planning to get rid of the human race and the DREAM MAKER by W.A. Harbinson. Orbit pb, Dist in Hegemony of Man is being attacked by Aust by Penguin Books. (C) 1991. 405pp. A$10.95. the Ousters - genetically altered On sale now. humans. The second personality of The trouble with the hole in the John Keats (a construct of the Core) ozone layer, which the author tells has the ear of the CEO of the was first noticed in 1979, was not so Hegemony, Meina Gladstone. There are much the fault of the emissions of convolutions and sub-plots galore and cars and factories and other human Simmons ties the whole thing together detritus, but something other. NASA at the end nicely. I found THE FALL scientist Tony Rydell and new girl OF HYPERION to be one of the better SF Clare Holton had banded together when novels released this year. It's got they noticed that around this time everything. *Recommended* airline pilots began having hallucinations when around Antarctica. BILL, THE GALACTIC HERO... ON THE PLANET OF The two put these two and two together TASTELESS PLEASURE. VGSF hc, dist in Aust by and got the idea that it was an outside Houghton Mifflin. (C) 1991. 213pp. A$36.00. On influence affecting the ozone layer. sale September. Things at the time got rapidly The continuing saga of Bill, the worse for the world, particularly the terror of the space marines. This USA and the two worked out that it was episode, set on the planet of something in the hole which was making Tasteless Pleasure, is co-authored by it larger - some type of virus. It is David Bischoff. not until the end of the book that the This time Bill meets up with a concept of an alternate world, spoofy sort by the name of Irma, and floating in the ether, is brought the adventures they both share as just forward as a place from which the this side of marvellous. There are basically innocent virus comes from. all sorts of satires throughout the novel - mentions are made of Star DIVERGENCE by Charles Sheffield. Gollancz h/c, Wars, Star Trek and there is even a dist in Aust by Houghton Mifflin. (C) 1991, character by the name of Dr. Delazny, 281pp. A$35.00. On sale now. who has all sorts of crazy ideas and I haven't read Book One of the emotions - especially when he is Heritage Universe, of which this is turned on by a certain machine... Book Two, but I would like to after I couldn't say that the writing reading this novel. is first class - this is, after all, a The universe DIVERGENCE is set funny story in a long series of funny in is full of alien races. About six stories, so read it when you want to million years before the action, a relax and let yourself unwind. But race that the following races called you must be able to let your Sense of the Builders constructed artifacts Wonder loose. across the spiral arm of this galaxy and probably all over the entir e THE SHADOW OF HEAVEN by Bob Shaw. VGSF h/c, dist galaxy, then departed. Most of their in Aust by Houghton Mifflin. (C) 1969, 1991. constructs still worked. At 174pp. A$34.95. On sale now. Summertide on the world of Quake, a As can be seen from the strange sphere shot out of the Copyright notice, this a revised disrupted planet, swallowed a starship edition. The scene is the future some and disappeared in the direction of ten or twenty years ahead. There has the planet Gargantua. Darya Lang, been a biological war and much of the Hans Rebka, Louis Nenda, Atvar H'sial, food growing regions are dust-bowls. J'merlia, and Kallik, together with Set on the East Coast of the USA, the E.C. Tally, would meet two ancient plot involves a newspaperman, Victor Builder computers and face a galactic Sterling, whose half brother menace thought destroyed over eleven disappears. His trail takes Vic to thousand years before. the floating island of Heaven where

THE MENTOR 72 page 72 Excellent space opera. I like though, with time travel and creatures good adventurous space opera and this inimical to Man. novel is a good example of it. When two coffins are found in ARMAGEDDON THE MUSICAL by Robert Rankin. Corgi pb, the Utah desert by a scientific dist in Aust by Transworld Publishers. (C) 1990. expedition, all is not well - they 331pp. A$10.95. On sale now. were found in rocks sixty-two million A strange one, this. The basic years old - and in them were the idea behind the plot has been done skeletons of humans. Joe Boderland is before - life on earth is as it is head of the company financing the because the aliens are directing expedition and he is called. He find events here to a predetermined script a silver bullet in the rib cage of one - and are filming it (or video-taping of the skeletons and later, when he it) for the homeworld/s. The main attempts to climb into a speeding difference with this novel is that it manifestation of a train, he finds is a comedy - and a good one. himself back in the time of Bram The hero of the novel is one Rex Stoker who is writing DRACULA. Mundi, who tries to get a job at one When flying vampires attack of the three organisations running them, they both go back in time in the what's left of the world after the train in an attempt to rescue Joe's nuclear exchange. His sister is one wife and deal with the invaders from of the top shots and he manages to get the far past, and future. Aldiss uses the job, though running afoul of his a strange style this time around - I sister's live-in lover, Ms Vrillium. can't say I like it much. Things quickly get more complicated with the arrival of Elvis Presley, WAR OF THE SKY LORDS by John Brosnan. VGSF pb, which event throws the aliens into a dist in Aust by Houghton Mifflin. (C) 1989. tizzy. A strange woman, called 252pp. A$10.95. On sale now. Christeen, keeps turning up to help I liked THE SKY LORDS when I Rex out of tight spots, including first read it, but I didn't know there getting him out of a torture chamber. was a sequel. There is, this is it, It isn't as complicated as it and there is a third volume (see the sounds - I thoroughly enjoyed it. Get review below). it to cheer you up. The second book continues the flight of Jan Dorvin, the Minervan, as FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE by Stephen Donaldson. Harper she leads her five air-ships into Collins h/c, dist in Aust by Collins/A&R. (C) battle. All is well until she finds 1991. 410pp. A$32.95. On sale now. she is pregnant - and the father must The Gap Into Vision is Stephen have been Milo, the augmented man from Donaldson's new SF series, of which four hundred years in the past. She FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE is book two. Book bears her son, but shortly it is one was reviewed several issues back. obvious he is different - he seems to The story continues with Morn be growing extraordinarily quickly. Highland in the clutches of a pirate Then Milo's genetic heritage comes to who has kidnapped her to do with her the fore and his personality takes what he will. It seems she escaped over the boy's body. From then things the clutches of one pirate to be in go downhill for Jan. When she is the den of another. Nick Succorso attacked by another five ships, helped also has designs on her body and Morn by a human flying an aircraft built by is forced to use the zone implant that the New Science of the Eloi, it spells Angus used to control her to make her her doom and a lot of other people body respond to Nick's advances in a also. Good sf adventure. way that makes Nick believe that she was utterly turned on by him. After REAPER MAN by Terry Pratchett. Gollancz h/c, dist weeks of this he began to believe that in Aust by Houghton Mifflin. 253pp. A$32.50. On she had some feelings for him - sale now. actually the real feelings were the Another Discworld novel, again opposite he thought they were. When illustrated - to good effect - by Josh he found out she was pregnant she made Kirby. him believe it was by him, and not by The city of Ankh-Morpork is up Angus, her other kidnapper. to its gutters in trouble again. The After many adventures, the plot inhabitants of said city are going deepens even more. At least Donaldson about their business when they find is trying to build up his characters, that Death is taking a holiday; or at which many authors don't do. I liked least they think he is. Actually, he it. has been fired and is working on a farm reaping wheat - admittedly one DRACULA UNBOUND by Brian Aldiss. Grafton h/c, dist stalk at a time, but he is enjoying in Aust by Collins/A&R. (C) 1991. 199pp. himself, as well as Bill Door (his new A$32.95. On sale now. name) can. Back in the city there is This could be a companion volume an influx of small trinkets - models to FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND, as it is set of houses, buildings, etc that when in the same literary background. one shakes them, a snow-like DRACULA UNBOUND is more sf this time, substances falls over the scene. It

THE MENTOR 72 page 73 is only later that another The plot is basically that of manifestation of these objects starts three adults who, as children, made a to run around. gateway through into another world. No, things aren't all that good What they saw there made them in the city. Another excellent determined not to go back, but the humorous novel from the word-processor Grey Man - someone who they saw there, of Terry Pratchett. kept on showing up all through their lives, following their movements as THE CITY, NOT LONG AFTER by Pat Murphy. Pan pb, their foster parents moved from place dist in Aust by Pan Books. (C) 1989. 320pp. to place. A$12.95. On sale now. There is a pause until the elder This novel is set in post sister has a son, Michael, and then Holocaust San Francisco. It is a San some of the inhabitants of North Francisco whose history traces back to America in the other world determine the Sixties - it is deserted except that it is Time to kidnap the three for artists, who live in a small and bring them across again to help in section of the city in a anarchistic a war that was going bad. So they style. sent the Grey Man out again... The The plot is simple - a power background of the other worlds are hungry military general is determined sketched in fairly well - though they to unite the remnants of the US into could have been given more depth in another powerblock - under him and is order to build up more empathy with pushing to invade San Francisco. It the reader. It isn't the best of the is also about a love story between breed, but it takes a lot to be as Danny-boy and the newly named woman good as MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE and Jax, whose mother had escaped the city BRING THE JUBILEE? and gone to live a solitary life in Quite a good read, and it the country. started getting more exciting near the Murphy has written a ghostly end. kind of novel and has managed to pull THE FALL OF THE SKY LORDS by John Brosnan. it off well, I think. An interesting Gollancz h/c, dist in Aust by Houghton Mifflin. work. (C) 1991. 284pp. A$36. On sale now. The third in the Sky Lords THE FACE OF THE WATERS by Robert Silverberg. trilogy, this novel ties up neatly all Grafton h/c, dist in Aust by Collins/A&R. (C) the loose ends of the other two. All 1991. 348pp. A$32.95. On sale now. through the three runs the thread of I must admit that I haven't Milo, the immortal from before the thought that some of Silverberg's time of the Gene Wars who left latest offerings have struck me as clippings of himself in various places being really top class. to ensure his continuance if he was THE FACE OF THE WATERS is a done away with. (His body could only novel that explores several things on take so much before he carked it. its way to its conclusion - the nature In this volume we move to the of religion and the push for power, north coast of Queensland where Cairns and what it means to be human. It is would be today and a settlement the is set on the water world of Hydros - slowly growing. Unfortunately for it, there is no land, only gigantic both the spacers and some remaining artificial floating islands, built by people in the skyships find them and the native Gillies. Earth had been all sorts of rows ensure. destroyed years before and the only This is good sf adventure, way down to the surface of Hydros was though John still hasn't quite got the one way - by drop capsule. knack of integrating his background The island where the early scientific data into the main story action takes place has some 78 humans without it jarring somewhat. on it. When they are thrown off because of an argument with the STALIN'S TEARDROPS by Ian Watson. Gollancz h/c Gilles, they set out to try to find dist in Aust by Houghton Mifflin. (c) 1985-19990. another island which will take them 270pp. A$35. On sale now. in. This is a collection of Ian The background and sociology is Watson's short stories, taken from first rate - this will be a Hugo sources all over the sf magazine world contender. *Recommended*. - F&SF, INTERZONE, ISAAC ASIMOV'S, THE GATE and other sources, including some GYPSIES by Robert Charles Wilson. Orbit pb, dist anthologies. in Aust by Penguin Books. (C) 1989. 311pp. The stories included are: A$11.95. On sale now. STALIN'S TEARDROPS; GAUDI'S DRAGON; IN Gypsies is billed as an THE UPPER CRETACEOUS WITH THE "alternate world" novel - it isn't SUMMERFIRE BRIGADE; THE BEGGARS IN OUR really; it is more a novel of parallel BACK YARD; FROM THE ANNALS OF THE worlds. An alternate world novel is a ONOMASTIC SOCIETY; TALES FROM WESTON novel which is entirely set in an WILLOW; IN HER SHOES; THE HUMAN alternate world. This one is not. CHICKEN; THE CASE OF THE GLASS SLIPPER; THE PHARAOH AND THE

THE MENTOR 72 page 74 MADEMOISELLE and THE EYE OF THE with no air-renewing comets coming in AYATOLLAH. I reached, read and to replenish the air escaping through finished THE BEGGARS IN OUR BACK YARD the low gravity. before I gave the book up. This is Tulela's family was famous one of the few times I haven't because her grandfather was one of the finished an sf book I've started - six who had, over the centuries, though in this case it's Speculative journeyed into the Forbidden Zone, Fiction. where the comets had hit. With the failure of the comets, the church- RENAISSANCE by Raymond F. Jones. Grafton pb, dist dominated City had become more in Aust by Collins/A&R. (C) 1951. 383pp. repressive and after the church A$10.95. On sale now. soldiers had burnt their farm and When I first read this in 1964 taken her parents, Tulela had under the title of MAN OF TWO WORLDS I determined to rescue them. It took a gave it five stars. I wondered before side trip into the Forbidden Zone to I re-read it nearly thirty years later bring to her just how large was the how it would stand up. problem with the comets. The same RENAISSANCE is set in a world situation affected Earth, whose sealed off - on one side is the climate was changing for the worst for impenetrable veils of a wall of force, the humans still there. on the other sides the Fire Lands and An excellent SF book for Dark Land. Ketan was born, as were teenagers and above. *Recommended* SF the others, through the Temple of adventure. Birth, but he had a more enquiring mind than the other Seekers. GALEN BEKNIGHTED by Michael Williams. Penguin pb, Eventually when he won through to dist in Aust by Penguin Books. (C) 1990. 317pp. Earth the rebellion that had been A$10.95. On sale now. fomenting for centuries burst into Volume 3 of H.E.R.O.E.S II. flame and both worlds felt the Author Michael Williams is the person destruction of war. who penned the songs in the six On the second reading I found Dragonlance novels, and in this novel that the novel had some slow places, he continues the story of the Seasel, but considering it was written over Galen Pathwarden, as he seeks his lost forty years ago, it has held its force brother. remarkably well. A good read. The Namer was one of the villains in the novel, he who ROBOT VISIONS by Isaac Asimov. VGSF pb, dist in destroyed books and poetry and all Aust by Houghton Mifflin. (C) 1940-1989 383pp. such but, since they were already A$14.95. On sale now. residing in the stones of the silver The companion volume to ROBOT crown, he didn't think it mattered all DREAMS, this volume has 36 stories and that much. Galen would traverse many essays on robots by the venerable caverns and fight many battles in his doctor. The earliest story is ROBBIE, search, and even when he found his the 1940s story, and the latest story brother, his task was still not dates from 1989. completed. There were trolls and evil The contents are: An men still to face. introduction; TOO BAD!; ROBBIE; A TSR paperback for those of REASON; LIAR!; RUNAROUND; EVIDENCE; fantasy bent. LITTLE LOST ROBOT; THE EVITABLE CONFLICT; FEMININE INTUITION; THE POHLSTARS by Frederik Pohl. VGSF pb, dist in Aust BICENTENNIAL MAN; SOMEDAY; THINK!; by Houghton Mifflin. (C) 1984. 203pp. A$10.95. SEGREGATIONIST; MIRROR IMAGE; LENNY; On sale now. GALLEY SLAVE; CHRISTMAS WITHOUT The stories in this collection RODNEY; ROBOTS I HAVE KNOWN; THE NEW were published between 1974 to 1983, TEACHERS; WHATEVER YOU WISH; THE even though the copyright date is FRIENDS WE MAKE; OUR INTELLIGENT 1984. TOOLS; THE LAWS OF ROBOTICS; FUTURE Pohl has been writing sf from FANTASTIC; THE MACHINE AND THE ROBOT; the fifties and his style is very THE NEW PROFESSION; THE ROBOT AS polished. The stories included ENEMY?; INTELLIGENCES TOGETHER; MY illustrate this. They are: THE ROBOTS; THE LAWS OF HUMANICS; SWEET, SAD QUEEN OF GRAZING ISLES; THE CYBERNETIC ORGANISM; THE SENSE OF HIGH TEST; SPENDING A DAY AT THE HUMOR and ROBOTS IN COMMUNICATION. LOTTERY FAIR; SECOND COMING; ENJOY, A collection of some of the best ENJOY; GROWING UP IN EDGE CITY; WE stories written about robots. PURCHASED PEOPLE; REM THE REMEMBERER; THE MOTHER TRIP; A DAY IN THE LIFE OF REUNION by John Gribbin & Marcus Chown. Gollancz ABLE CHARLIE and THE WAY IT WAS. h/c, dist in Aust by Houghton Mifflin. (C) 1991. There is an Introduction to the 285pp. A$36. On sale now., anthology and each individual story The events detailed in DOUBLE has a short introduction by Pohl. PLANET had taken place a thousand Many of the stories here I haven't years before, and now events on the read before and some of them are in Moon had taken a turn for the worse,

THE MENTOR 72 page 75 the universe of other writers - eg EE THE DAYS OF PERKY PAT; STAND-BY; Smith. Solid reading. WHAT'LL WE DO WITH RAGLAND PARK? and OH, TO BE A BLOBEL!. There are also WAR OF THE MAELSTROM by Jack Chalker. NEL, dist notes on most stories by the author in Aust by Hodder & Stoughton. (C) 1988. 360pp. and an Introduction by James Tiptree, A$12.95. On sale now. Jr. Book 3 of the Changewinds saga, As usual, a "must get" Chalker in his introduction says that collection for anyone seriously this and the other previous two books interested in SF. should be read as one novel and that the reader should, if this is the ACROSS THE THALASSA MEY by Dennis McCarty. Del Rey first he/she has bought, get the pb, dist in Aust by Random Century. (C) 1991. others before starting to read. 247pp. A$9.95. On sale now. The Storm Princess and the This is a fantasy novel with all wizard Klittichorn are wondering why the accoutrements: knights, horses and she has trouble keep control of the adventure. Maybe I should quote from Changewinds. After a short the blurb on the back cover? conversation the wizard realises that "Once again, the Oracle summoned it must be because of the fact that King Palamon of Carea to the island one of the women brought from another where the Temple stood. And this world must be pregnant and the two time, she appeared to him in person as were drawing the magical energy to he performed his sacrifices. She gave themselves. her prophecy - a warning that a great WAR OF THE MAELSTROM is quite a evil was about to fall upon the lands thick book, with small print; so if around the Thlassa Mey. So serious you do get this, ensure that you was this that the altar cracked, and either have, or get the others, as the she fainted as she finished". author does not provide much in the Actually, it is a quest novel way of introduction. that most players of role playing games will know by heart. And most EVENT HORIZON by Jack McKinney. Del Rey pb, dist readers of quest fantasy will be able in Aust by Random Century. (C) 1991. 310pp. to follow the simple plot without any A$8.95. On sale now. trouble at all. Jack McKinney is the author of A book for passing the time when the ROBOTECH novels, though that waiting for a bus or train, or for shouldn't be held against him. giving to someon who is into the EVENT HORIZON is a novel with activities mentioned above. quite a bit of humour - and the rest of it is good SF adventure. The Black TRIAD OF DARKNESS by Martin Middleton. Pan pb, Hole Travel Agency was an outfit that dist in Aust by Pan Books. (C) 1991. 335pp. wasn't well known for really looking A$$11.95. On sale now. after it's clients. In the case in Martin Middleton is an question a crowd of HuZZah was in the Australian, living in Queensland. The charge of a human guide. Somehow they first volume in this series, CIRCLE OF ended up on a world that wasn't their LIGHT, was reviewed in TM 69. destination - a shipment destined for The quest continues as Teal that world had somehow gotten the same fights his was through unexplored transhipment number as their tour. lands on his way to conquer the That wasn't the only thing Darkness that threatens civilisation. wrong: the Earth was in pretty bad Middleton has a good grasp of language shape and was desperately trying to and has a crisp style, as this quote get itself out of its declining of the first paragraph in Chapter 1 civilisation. The novel is in quite shows: small print, so you are getting your "As usual, Ransyn threw himself money's worth in reading time. into the thick of the fighting. Steering his mount with his knees, he THE DAYS OF PERKY PAT by Philip K. Dick. Grafton forced his way into the heart of the pb, dist in Aust by Collins/A&R. (C) 1987. 494pp. Navealozan attackers. His heavy sabre A$12.95. On sale now. cut through raised shields, to dig Volume 4 of the collected deep into arms and heads without a stories of PK Dick, the stories in pause. Raysyn's mount bit and kicked this volume were actually published as the press of attackers closed in between 1955 and 1964. tighter about it. One Navealozan Anyone collecting these volumes darted in beneath Ransyn's raised or who has never read Dick will want sabre only to find that the flashing this anthology. The stories are yellow teeth of the battle-trained included are: AUTOFAC; SERVICE CALL; mount snapped his hand off at the CAPTIVE MARKET; THE MOLD OF YANCY; THE wrist." MINORITY REPORT; RECALL MECHANISM; THE Anybody who wants to know what UNRECONSTRUCTED M; EXPLORERS WE; WAR happened to those with the rings of GAME; IF THERE WERE NO BENNY CEMOLI; Light will just have to read on... NOVELTY ACT; WATERSPIDER; WHAT THE DEAD MEN SAY; ORPHEUS WITH CLAY FEET;

THE MENTOR 72 page 76 THE EYE OF THE HERON & THE WORD FOR WORLD IS they behave and their social FOREST by Ursula Le Guin. VGSF pb, dist in Aust by relationships, and most of the time Houghton Mifflin. (C) 1972-1978. 301pp. A$10.95. the humans can follow the reasons for On sale now. what the aliens do. Foster has This book is a collection - can written a fairly tight novel, and I you call a book containing only two found that the reading was easy and novelettes a collection? - of two of didn't take much brain power to Le Guin works from the 1970 - the follow. decade after the Age of Aquarius. In Good for that easy afternoon. it she deals with violence and the threat and use of war on alien PRIME DIRECTIVE by Judith & Garfield Reeves- planets, though, of course, she is Stevens. Pan pb, dist in Aust by Pan Books. (C) actually writing of humans on Earth in 1990. 404 pp. A$12.95. On sale now. the 1970s. The main points of the This novel is set in the final novelettes haven't changed, either. year of the original Star Trek's Five Both subject stories are still in the Year Mission. forefront of reasons for peaceful co- PRIME DIRECTIVE is a mission existance and will doubtless be still back into the past for McCoy and Spock for centuries to come. - back to Talin where the Enterprise had I hadn't read THE EYE OF THE been destroyed and the world and its HERON before this edition; though I people wiped out. They went back to had read THE WORD FOR WORLD IS FOREST. find out what happened when James T. The latter is as powerful a story as Kirk, in his last hour on the Enterprise, it was first published. The former is earned himself a name alongside those as hard hitting as any of her earlier of Quisling and Ron Tracy - a name works. In the author's Introduction that would ring through the she gives some valuable background Federation's history as someone who information for those readers wanting had violated the Prime Directive and to know more of the time when the brought a world to destruction and the stories were written. I have found Federation a blot that would take ages her later stories (written in the last to erase. Of the original 12 five years) to be much more starships of that Five Year Plan, the convoluted and less powerful than her Enterprise was the one to bring disgrace early ones. If you haven't read these to Starfleet. Great reading for Trek stories - buy this book. fans.

ETERNAL LIGHT by Paul J. McAuley. Gollancz h/c, GROUNDED by Chris Claremont. Pan pb, dist in Aust dist in Aust by Houghton Mifflin. (C) 1991. by Pan Books. (C) 1991. 352pp. A$12.95. On sale 384pp. On sale now. now. ETERNAL LIGHT is an ambitious It's surprising how many of the novel. It is a sequel to FOUR HUNDRED aircraft and spacecraft on the covers BILLION STARS, which was about the war of paperbacks and novels these days between the Enemy and mankind. have Stealth fighter\bomber Several of the characters in the first characteristics. This novel has one novel turn up in the second. such. This book could have been FIRST FLIGHT was the first novel written by E.E. Smith if he were in the series about Nicole Shea, writing in the 1990s instead of the this is the second. Claremont builds 1930s and 1940s. The action of the on Shea's character, and the way he story ranges from Earth, alien stars does it is to get her suspended from near Earth, to the Galactic core, to astronaut Flight Status and put into a the standing wave around the central ground job. Naturally hot shot pilot black hole, to the event horizon of a Shea doesn't like this but tries to virtual reality that is on the way to settle down. Until she finds out that another universe. she is the target of some unwholesome I found the author's style to be types who want to do away with her. a little bit rough in places, but it And then she finds out that the alien is one of the better novels I have Halyan't'a also have ideas about her. read this year. *Recommended*. Not bad for an SF-near future adventure novel. QUOZL by Alan Dean Foster. NEL pb, dist in Aust by Hodder & Stoughton. (C) 1989. 344pp. A$12.95. On IMAJICA by Clive Barker. Harper Collins h/c, dist sale now. in Aust by Collins/A&R. (C) 1991. 854pp. Alan Dean Foster has been A$32.95. On sale now. writing humorous sf for some years This is one big fantasy book. now. He has written a series about Clive Barker is famous for previous the Flinx and other novels that have a fantasies - WEAVEWORLD and THE GREAT core of humour. AND SECRET SHOW. A photograph QUOZL is a First Contact sort of enclosed in the book I received shows story, with aliens contacting certain him to be thin and sordonic, sort of Earth persons to find our the impact like Lovecraft without the lantern on our society. The aliens themselves jaw. are pretty close to humans in the way

THE MENTOR 72 page 77 IMAJICA is a fantasy of 432pp. It includes the two novels THE dimensions - five, to be precise - DREAMSTONE and THE TREE OF SWORDS AND Earth is one, cut off from the other JEWELS. These two novels are about four. There are people that find out the Ealdwood - that piece of ancient that Earth is cut off and who attempt forest that was still holding its own to bring about a joining. There are against the encroaching humans. others who are doing their damnest to Excellent fantasy. ensure that Earth stays separate. MOON DANCE by S.P. Somtow. Gollancz Horror The journeys through all five h/c, dist in Aust by Houghton Mifflin. dimensions are detailed. Barker uses A$34.95. As I keep on saying, I don't long paragraphs throughout the novel; usually review horror, but this one is this tends to slow down the reader as by Somtow. This is a werewolf story they read through, and makes them set in the American West and a good think more on what he has written. If read for all horror buffs. you liked Barker's other long novels THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE by Andrew Neiderman. Legend you will find this to your taste. pb, dist in Aust by Random Century. A$10.95. A modern horror tale with a legal firm is run by the Devil. For PBS PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED. some reason they don't lose the cases they take and in their computer is a GRASS by Sheri S. Tepper. This came out in file named Futures. An interesting, h/c several months ago and I gave a if of a low intensity, novel. good mention for it. Set on a planet SLICE by Rex Miller. Pan horror pb, dist with alien life forms that ultimately in Aust by Pan Books. A$10.95. The encroached on the human colonists, tale of a grotesque homicidal maniac this is a novel that I found both well who goes through life carving up written and absorbing. various people when the "redness" in THE EMPIRE OF FEAR by Brian Stableford. Pan pb, his head gets too much for him. Lots dist in Aust by Pan books. A$12.95. of blood, sex and steaming intestines. On sale now. This pb is a bargain. For the connoisseur. The Trade pb that came out several DRAGONSPELL by Katharine Kerr. Grafton pb, months ago was priced at $19.99. The dist in Aust by Collins/A&R. 495pp. novel is set in a counter Earth where A$11.95. On sale now. The h/c was Europe was invaded by vampires in the reviewed in TM 68. Rhodry has been middle ages. I found the whole thing kidnapped and Jill and the wizard fascinating - one of the best Salamander are off to rescue him. In treatments of the vampire legend as the background is the conflict between sf. good and evil in the form of the THE KNIGHT AND KNAVE OF SWORDS by Fritz Leiber. wizard Nenyn and his ancient opponent. Grafton pb, dist in Aust by BILL, THE GALACTIC HERO...ON THE PLANET OF BOTTLED Collins/A&R. A$10.95. On sale now. BRAINS by Harry Harrison. VGSF pb, dist in The hardcover was reviewed in TM 68. Aust by Houghton Mifflin. A$10.50. If you are a Grey Mouser fan then On sale Sept. The hardcover was you'll have to get this book if you reviewed in TM 69. The third Bill didn't buy the h/c. It is book 7 in novel, when he is sent to spy on a the series and both the Mouser and cloud covered planet and finds that Fafhrd are getting on into middle age. those nasty Computers are out to Still, rousing adventure with Leiber's control things again... and the own unique style. Good reading. Chingers aren't far behind. Good for QUEEN OF ANGELS by Greg Bear. VGSF pb, dist a loose laugh. in Aust by Houghton Mifflin. A$19.95. CHUNG KUO: THE BROKEN WHEEL by David Wingrove. On sale now. I reviewed the h/c of NEL pb, dist in Aust by Hodder & this in TM 69, where I gave it a * Stoughton. 611pp. A$12.95. On sale Recommended *. It is set in the 21st now. The second volume. Follows the Century, has four plots and has the Seven Chinese rulers of the world as depth of background detail that Bear Change takes root in their world. I shows in his latest works. If you *Highly Recommended* the hardcovers - like good hard sf extrapolation then get these, definitely. Some of the you will find this novel good reading, best SF for 1991. as I did. THE ROWAN by Anne McCaffrey. Corgi pb, dist PRINCE IVAN by Peter Morwood. Legend pb, dist in Aust by Transworld Publishers. in Aust by Random Century. The trade 320pp. A$10.95. On sale now. THE pb of this novel was reviewed in TM ROWAN is another series Anne McCaffrey 69. This printing has different cover is commencing, based on a previous artwork. Set in old Russia, it is the short story. The plot is based on tale of the son of a local Tsar various people have psi powers and looking for his kidnapped wife, who using them for transporting goods into has been taken by the evil wizard orbit and to extra-solar planets. One Koshchey the Undying. Lots of magic of the disadvantages is that they and wizardry abound. cannot transport themselves, though EALDWOOD by C.J. Cherryh. VGSF pb, dist by they can teleport, with the help of Aust by Houghton Mifflin. A$13.50. On generators, cargo. Adventurous sf. sale now. Quite a hefty volume at

THE MENTOR 72 page 78 DARKNESS by John Saul. Bantam h/c, dist in ALL THE WEYRS OF PERN by Anne Aust by Transworld. A$29.95. On sale McCaffrey now. Set in the Florida swamps, the THE ARCHITECTURE OF DESIRE by M. tale is of a family that moved back to Gentle the town they moved out of years PAN: before. They found city life a little THE MEDUSA ENCOUNTER by Paul Preuss too much, but when they moved back to BARROW by John Deakins the swamp, they found things they NEW ERA: didn't knew existed. Well written FEAR by L. Ron Hubbard. horror of the type that has readers gibbering in the dark of the night. ----ooOoo----

OTHER CURRENT RELEASES: TRANSWORLD: RATS & GARGOYLES by Mary Gentle MORE PUBLISHING INFO: SEA FIRE by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman Something that didn't fit into ELVEN STAR by Margaret Weis & Tracy the Editorial space for this issue is Hickman the following. HOFFMAN'S GUIDE TO SF & HORROR FILMS While I was talking to one of PENGUIN: the Directors of "Eridan" publishing MAN-KZIN WARS II Deaning, Pournelle & house of Minsk, he mentioned that Stirling there would be a Conference of some 30 THE SWORD OF SHANNARA by Terry Brooks Russian SF Publishers in Minsk in May, SOUL RIDER by Jack Chalker 1992. He said that if Australian SECRET HARMONIES by Paul McAuley writers and publishers are interested ORPHAN OF CREATION by Roger Allen in the Russian market for "Fantastica" SONG OF THE DANCING GODS by Jack (SF and fantasy) they might like to Chalker come along and join in. He stressed GRUMBLES FROM THE GRAVE by Robert that this would be a professionally Heinlein. run event, and that it is only for KNIGHT OF SHADOWS by Roger Zelazny publishers, writers and agents. RANDOM CENTURY: This will be a great opportunity CRYSTAL EXPRESS by Bruce Stirling for Australian writers and publishers HODDER & STOUGHTON: to visit the USSR and see a city that THE WHITE MOUNTAIN by David Wingrove has a lot going for it. It will also HOUGHTON MIFFLIN/JACARANDA W ILEY give an opportunity to conduct WITCHES ABROAD by Terry Pratchett business in surroundings that are NARABEDLA LTD by Fred Pohl conducive to talk, as it is planned to SLEEPING IN THE BLOOD by R. Richardson be held in a hotel situated in pine EXPATRIA I by K Brooke forest, with walks, saunas, etc. CLAY'S ARK by Octavia Butler If you are at all interested, THE DIFFERENCE ENGINE by William please contact me and I will forward Gibson your name to the organisers and let you know additional details as they become available.

DECEMBER RELEASES: - Ron Clarke. 27.10.91 TRANSWORLD:

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